The Impact of CDH13 Polymorphism and Statin Administration on TG/HDL Ratio in Cardiovascular Patients

PURPOSE: Adiponectin is expressed in adipose tissue, and is affected by smoking, obesity, and genetic factors, such as CDH13 polymorphism, contributing to the development of coronary vascular diseases (CVDs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the effect of genetic variations of CDH13 (rs3865188) on blood chemistry and adiponectin levels in 345 CVD patients undergoing statin-free or statin treatment. RESULTS: Genetic variation in CDH13 was significantly correlated with several clinical factors, including adiponectin, diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride (TG), and insulin levels. Subjects with the T allele (mutant form) had significantly lower adiponectin levels than those with the A allele. Total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), TG/high-density lipoprotein cho-lesterol (HDLc) ratio, and HDL3b subtype were markedly decreased in statin treated subjects regardless of having the A or T allele. TG and TG/HDL in the statin-free group with TT genotype of the rs3865188 was higher than in the others but they were not different in the statin-treated subjects. We observed a significant difference in adiponectin levels between patients with the A and T alleles in the statin-free group; meanwhile, no difference in adiponectin levels was noted in the statin group. Plasma levels of other cytokines, leptin, visfatin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), were not different among the CDH13 genotypes according to statin administration. Body mass index (BMI), TG, insulin, HDL3b, and TG/HDL ratio showed negative correlations with adiponectin levels. CONCLUSION: Plasma adiponectin levels and TG/HDL ratio were significantly different according to variants of CDH13 and statin administration in Korean patients with CVD.

Single Nucleotide Deletion Mutation of KCNH2 Gene is Responsible for LQT Syndrome in a 3-Generation Korean Family

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is characterized by the prolongation of the QT interval in ECG and manifests predisposition to life threatening arrhythmia which often leads to sudden cardiac death. We encountered a 3-generation family with 5 affected family members in which LQTS was inherited in autosomal dominant manner. The LQTS is considered an ion channel disorder in which the type and location of the genetic mutation determines to a large extent the expression of the clinical syndrome. Upon screening of the genomic sequences of cardiac potassium ion channel genes, we found a single nucleotide C deletion mutation in the exon 3 of KCNH2 gene that co-segregates with the LQTS in this family. This mutation presumably resulted in a frameshift mutation, P151fs+15X. This study added a new genetic cause to the pool of mutations that lead to defected potassium ion channels in the heart.

The Hairless Gene: A Putative Navigator of Hair Follicle Development

The Hairless (HR) gene regulates the expression of several target genes as a transcriptional corepressor of nuclear receptors. The hair follicle (HF), a small independent organ of the skin, resides in the epidermis and undergoes regenerative cycling for normal hair formation. HF development requires many genes and signaling pathways to function properly in time and space, one of them being the HR gene. Various mutations of the HR gene have been reported to cause the hair loss phenotype in rodents and humans. In recent studies, it has been suggested that the HR gene is a critical player in the regulation of the hair cycle and, thus, HF development. Furthermore, the HR gene is associated with the Wnt signaling pathway, which regulates roliferation and differentiation of cells and plays an essential role in hair and skin development. In this review, we summarize the mutations responsible for human hair disorders and discuss the roles of the HR gene in HF development.

Comparison of the Result of Lumbar Posterolateral Bone Fusion using Autogenous Bone Graft with Allobone Graft

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to analyze clinical outcome of lumbar spinal fusion with autobone graft and with allobone graft as an additional autograft extender. METHODS: Fifty two patients who underwent lumbar posterolateral arthrodesis for degenerative lumbar diseases between February, 1998 and October, 2000 were evaluated. Arthrodesis was performed by transpedicular screw fixation. We used autogenous bone graft in 32 cases (Group A) and allobone graft in 20 cases (group B). Post operative radiographs were obtained to review the resorption of graft bone and the evidence of fusion. A modified Lenke scale was used to assess the status of the fusion. RESULTS: There were 17 men and 35 women. Mean follow up period was 12 months. According to the modified Lenke scale, spinal bone fusion rate was 93.75% in the group A and 85% in the groub B. CONCLUSION: Lumbar spinal fusion using allobone graft is favorably good compare to autobone graft.

Effects of Reduction in Surgical Treatment of Low Grade Spondylolisthesis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of reduction on postoperative results in patients with low grade spondylolisthesis, the authors retrospectively analyze ninety three patients managed surgically. METHODS: Ninety three patients with low grade spondylolisthesis underwent surgery were classified into two groups. Reduction was obtained in one group and not obtained in the other group. The clinical severity was assessed with Prolo's grade and radiological severity was measured with simple lateral radiographs(static and dynamic views). The patients were followed for a mean of 18.6 months(range 9 to 21 months). RESULTS: All patients were treated with decompression, instrumentation, and bone graft. Reduction was done in fifty eight patients and not in thirty five cases. Overall postoperative clinical results(Prolo's grade) were not statistically different in both groups. CONCLUSION: In surgical management of spondylolisthesis, decompression and stabilization with instrumentation and bone graft provide good clinical outcome. In cases of low grade spondylolisthesis, reduction performed additionally has no advantage on clinical outcome.

Age-dependent relationship between allergic skin test responses and antigen specific IgE level in atopic asthma / 천식및알레르기

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Allergic skin test and serum specific IgE are major tools in the diagnosis of atopy. Many factors influence the results of those two studies. We evaluated the correlation between the responses of allergic skin test and the level of specific IgE as related aging process. METHODS: 234 atopic asthma patients were enrolled and divided into 3 different groups according to their ages. All subjects were performed allergic skin test and measured serum specific IgE. We used only two common antigens, D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus. RESULTS: Positive rates on allergy skin prick test and serum specific IgE reduced as increasing of subject's ages with showing significant agreement rates of results of both tests among 3 different age groups. CONCLUSION: The aging process may make, not only decrease of the specific cutaneous responses, but decrease of the production of antibodies, and immunologic activities itself.

Atlantoaxial Instability due to Hypoplasia of the Odontoid Process

The authors present a case of a 39-year old man, admitted with neck pain and tingling sensation on his right upper extremity. On radiological investigation, atlantoaxial instability due to odontoid process hypoplasia and mild upper cervical cord compression by abnormal soft tissue were revealed. We performed posterior C1-2 transarticular screw fixation with posterior bone graft and could obtain good postoperative result.

A Study of the Expression of p53 and the Product of bcl-2 in Early and Advanced Gastric Cancers

PURPOSE: To evaluate of the role in carcinogenesis of p53 over-expression and bcl-2 inhibition in early gastric and advanced gastric cancers, we investigated the immunohistochemical tissue status of 31 primary early gastric-cancer patients and 31 primary advanced gastric-cancer patients. METHODS: DO7, the monoclonal antiserum to the P53 protein, and clone 124, the monoclonal antibody to the bcl-2 protein, were used for the immunohistochemical analysis of the 31 surgically resected primary early gastric cancer specimens and the 31 surgically resected advanced gastric-cancer specimens. The expressions were scored and divided into negative, positive, low expression, and overexpression. RESULTS: The clinicopathologic parameter; tumor depth of invasion, histologic type, and differentiation, were not related with the expression status of p53 or bcl-2. Of the 31 primary early gastric-cancer patients, 14 exhibited p53 overexpression and 16 showed negative the bcl-2 expression; 5 cases had both p53 overexpression and negative bcl-2 expression. Of the 31 advanced gastric cancer patients, 19 showed the p53 overexpression, and negative bcl-2 expression, 15 exhibited both p53 overexpression and negative bcl-2 expression. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that cell cycle alteration and apoptosis control by p53 and bcl-2 may play roles in the carcinogenesis of gastric cancer. However, there are many other mediators that may facilitate carcinogenesis. This study proved that bcl-2 is a valuable prognostic factor.

Effect of glycyrrhetinic acid on the viability of human gingival fibroblasts / 대한치주과학회지

No abstract available.

Multiple Intracranial Meningiomas

Meningiomas are common intracranial tumors arising from the arachnoid cells of the meninges, but the neurosurgical frequency of multiple intracranial meningiomas is low ; the pathogenesis of multiple meningioma is still unknown. The authors report sixth cases of multiple intracranial meningiomas, representing 3.3% of all meningiomas surgically removed at our hospital during the past ten years. Four cases were female. In four cases the meningiomas affected one hemisphere, and 62% were located in the convexity. All tumors were removed in one stage and except in case 5, there has been no recurrence. In this report, we present precise descriptions of cases 3 and 5.

Clinical Analysis of Multiple Intracranial Aneurysms

In this retrospective clinical analysis for 143 patients who underwent operation due to multiple intracranial aneurysms during the last 12 years(1983-1994), we intended to find out the clinical characteristics, the significant signs for the differentiation between ruptured and unruptured aneurysm, and to compare the results of one-stage operations with those of two-stage operations. The results were s follows; Of 864 patients operated on due to intracranial aneurysms, 143 patients(16.6%) had two or more intracranial aneurysms. Multiple aneurysms were more common in females, with a female to male ratio of 2.4 : 1 as compared with 1.3 to 1 for patients with single aneurysm. Common locations of the aneurysms were the middle cerebral artery, and posterior communication artery, anterior communicating artery, and the anterior choroidal artery, in that order. In identifying the site of rupture, the focal hematoma in brain CT scan, segmental vasospasm, irregularity and sizes of aneurysmal sacs on angiograms were helpful. Aneurysms 3mm or less were less prone to rupture. However, for those with a diameter of more than 4mm, the frequency of rupture increased with the size of aneurysm. Eighty eight percent of patients who underwent operations had a favorable outcome and the operation mortality rate was 7.7%. In patients of Grade I and II, surgical results of the one-stage operation group and two-stage operation group did not differ. In Grade III patients, the results were better for the two-stage operation group, without statistical significance. From our studies we have come to the conclusion that incidental aneurysms found in patients with low risk should be treated at the same time when ruptured aneurysms are clipped.

Usefulness of Computed Tomographic Angiography(CTA) in the Evaluation of Cerebral Aneurysms

In this study we have demonstrated the usefulness of the 3D-computed tomography in the evaluation of cerebral aneurysms as well as presenting the technical considerations and problems in its practical use. Between September 1994 and February 1995, we carried out computed tomographic angiography(CTA) in 29 patients using helical CT(General Electric HiSpeed Advantage unit). There were 15 females and 14 males, aged between 28 and 71 years. The CT angiography was performed for the following five reasons: 1) Further evaluation of a failed conventional cerebral angiography(three cases). 2) impermissible condition of conventional cerebral angiography(six cases). 3) suspicion of aneurysm or subarachnoid hemorrhage on conventional CT scan(eleven cases). 4) Further evaluation of proven subarachnoid hemorrhage with no or suspicious cerebral angiographic finding(seven cases). 5) Follow-up of residual aneurysm sac(two cases). This early experience of computed tomographic angiography using helical CT was encouraging in aspect to its usefalness in the evaluation of cerebral aneurysms in the arteries around the circle of Willis.

The Management of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Medical Versus Surgical Therapy for Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage

The results of treatment for 248 patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage are described. Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhages are classified into primary(215 patients) and secondary(33 patients) hemorrhages. Most of the secondary hemorrhages were located in the subcortical area(64%). In the Non-treated group, eighty patients died immediately after diagnosis. In the treated group, the overall mortality was 5% in primary hemorrhages and 15% in secondary hemorrhages, and the percentages of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage patients returning to full-time work or independent life without disability or with minimal disability were 30% in putaminal hemorrhages, 86% in caudate hemorrhages, 44% in thalamic hemorrhages, 61% in subcortical hemorrhages, 78% in cerebellar hemorrhages and 40% in brainstem hemorrhages respectively. This study showed that surgical treatment did not give better result over conservative treatment in the management of hypertensive supratentorial and brainstem hemorrhage. However hypertensive caudate and cerebellar hemorrhage were associated with favorable outcomes regardless of the mode of therapy chosen. In severe hemorrhages, surgery may improve the length of survival, but the quality of life remains poor. The authors have shown again that aspiration surgery for hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage is a valuable alternative to craniotomy.

Multiple Brain Abscesses Caused by Aspergillus

The authors report a rare case of multiple brain abscesses caused by aspergillus. The patient was immunologically competent and apparently normal status without any predisposing factors. Because these abscesses were not controlled by stereotactic biopsy and subsequent amphotericin B, it required surgical excision and postoperative combination therapy of antifungal agents for residual small abscess. The clinical course, usefulness of multiple therapeutic strategies, and the outcome are presented.

Statistical Analysis for Prognosis of CNS Tumor According to the New WHO Classification

The authors have reviewed and followed up 664 operated patients at the Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam University Hospital from January 1984 to December 1993 according to the new WHO classification of CNS neoplasms. The sex ratio(M:F) was 1:1.1 and the age distribution showed a peak between 51 to 60 years. Common tumors were glioma(28%), meningioma(21%), pituitary adenoma(15%), schwannoma(9%), metastatic tumor(8%) in the decreasing order of frequency. The most common tumor was glioblastoma(33%) within the category of gliomas. Incidence of pediatric brain tumors was about 12% among the all intracranial tumors. Survival curves for astrocytomas, pilocytic astrocytomas, anaplastic astrocytomas, glioblastoma and metastatic tumors were obtained from follow-up studies of the brain tumor patients regardless of therapeutic mode.

Transthyretin Stimulates Autooxidation of Reduced Glutathione

When reduced glutathione(GSH) was incubated at neutral pH and at 37degrees, its concentration decteased slowly with formation of oxidized glutathione(GSSG). Autooxidation of GSH was accelerated by Cu2+ and Hg2+, but not by other common mono-, di-, and tri-valent cations. Tranthyretin was found to stimulate autooxidation of GSH in the presence or absence of Cu2+ and Hg2+. EDTA inhibited perfectly the autooxidation of GSH regardless of the presence of transthyretin. The stimulating activity of transthyretin was maximal at pH 7.0, declining progressively with increase or decrease of pH from 7.0. Sulfhydryl-blocking agents such as p-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid and N-ethylmaleimide markedly inhibited the stimulating activity of transthyretin. Transthyretin stimulated autooxidation of other sulfhydryl compounds such as dithiothreitol and cysteine. However, it did not show a significant effect on autooxidation of sulfhydryl group of egg albumin and eye lens proteins. And transthyretin did not cause any oxidative change to thyroxine(T4), 3, 5, 3'-tri iodo thyronine(T3) and 3, 3', 5'-triiodothyronine(rT3) bound to it in the presence of GSH and Cu2+. The above results suggest that transthyretin may play a role in regulation of oxidized status of sulfhydryl groups in blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid.