A new crush anastomosis model which can be evaluated as crush energy was established on the femoral artery and vein of the rats weighing 250g on the average. The degrees of vessel injury were evaluated as crush energy. The arteries underwent the crush injury with the energy of 0.3J, 0.4J, 0.5J, while the reins were crushed with the energy of 0.2J, 0.3J, 0.4J respectively then the vessels in each group were divided and anastomoses by a standard microsurgical technique. Saline and heparin were used as a luminal topical agent and systemic one, which allowed contact with the damaged endothelium. The heparin treated group had a patency rate of 95%(0.3J), 87.5%(0.4J), 40%(0.5J) vs. 55%(0.3J), 15%(0.4J), 10%(0.5J) in the saline irrigated group in the femoral arteries, which had the patency rate of 82.5%(0.2J), 72.5%(0.3J), 42.5%(0.4J) vs. 35%(0.2J), 12.5%(0.3J), 7.5%(0.4J) in the saline irrigated group in the femoral vein at 1 day. There was a energy-related decrease in patency rate. These findings indicate that the crush model of 0.4J in the rat femoral artery, 0.3J in the rat femoral vein is a reliable and reproducible thrombosis model. The model described in this study is to be used to evaluate and assess the ability of antithrombotic agent in preventing thrombosis at the anastomotic site.
Animals ; Arteries ; Endothelium ; Femoral Artery ; Femoral Vein ; Heparin ; Phenobarbital ; Rats* ; Thrombosis ; Veins

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe Magnetic Resonance(MR) findings of two epidural cavernous malformations of the spine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR imaging was performed in 2 patients(29-year-old man and 54-year-old woman). Sagittal T1 -, T2-weighted images and Gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced axial and sagittal images were acquired. Two patients had surgery and MR findings were compared with surgical and histopathological findings. RESULTS: MR imaging showed high- and low-signal intensity components of these lesions that were characteristic of an epidural cavernous malformation in one case. The other case showed a high signal intensity on T2- and strong enhancement on Gd-enhanced T1 -weighted images. We think that the former may be due to mixed subacute and chronic hemorrhage and the latter may be due to blood within the endotheliumlined sinusolds without hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: These findings were well correlated with the surgical and histo-pathological findings of cavernous malformation.
Gadolinium ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Middle Aged ; Spine*

Intraspinal neurenteric cysts are rare congenital lesions that results from abnormal separation of germ layers in the third week of embryonic development, which may cause spinal compression. Although, the diagnosis of neurenteric cyst was very difficult prior to operation, MRI has proven to be a useful imaging modality in detection, localization and characterization of intraspinal neurenteric cysts. We recently experienced intraspinal neurenteric cyst in two patients who presented with progerssive quadriparesis. Myelography, CT myelography and MRI were taken and complete excision was performed. The MRI findings are presented and the literature is reviewed.
Diagnosis ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Germ Layers ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Myelography ; Neural Tube Defects* ; Pregnancy ; Quadriplegia

Aspirin(ASA) and NSAIDs can induce bronchoconstriction in 10~20% of adult asthmatics patients. Inhalation of lysine-ASA(L-ASA) has been described as an alternative method for diagnosis of ASA-sensitive asthma. To further understand the characterlstics of ASA-sensitive asthmas. we studied 38 asthmatic patients with ASA -sensitivity (36 intrinsic and 2 extrinsic asthma) proven by L-ASA bronchoprovocation test (BPT). Most were female (male to female ratio was 27:73). Twenty (53%) of them had no previous history of adverse reactions when exposed to ASA. Twenty nine (79%) had rhino-sinusitis symptoms. Early asthmatic response was observed in 16 (42%) patients, late only response in 16(42%), and dual response in 6(16%) patients. The threshold of L-ASA to provoke a positive response ranged from 11.2 to 180 mg/ml and most (68.3%) had a positive response after the inhalation of 180 mg/ml. Concurrent sensitivity to sulfite was noted in 14 (36%) patients, followed by sensitivity to tartrazine in one (3%) patient. None showed a positive response to sodium benzoate. After the avoidance from ASA/ NSAIDs with administration of anti-asthmatic medications, symptom and medication scores reduced in 26(87%) patients among 30 followed patients. They were classified into the improved group: four (13%) patients belonged to the not-improved group. There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics between the improved and not- improved group (p>0.05). In conclusion, L-ASA BPT could be considered as a useful method to diagnose ASA -sensitive asthma and be used to screen the causative agent for asthmatic patients with intrinsic type, especially in female patients with rhino-sinusitis and/or nasal polyp, even though they do not have arty history of adverse reactions. Cessation of exposure and proper treatment may allow to reduce symptom and medication scores.
Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Asthma* ; Bronchoconstriction ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Nasal Polyps ; Sodium Benzoate ; Tartrazine

No abstract available.
Adolescent* ; Humans

The purposes of this study were to test the negative association between schizophrenia and rheumatoid arthritis(RA) and to clarify the role of prolactin and estrogen as protective factors in this association. The author compared the prevalence rate of RA between 561 patients with schizophrenia and 222 patients with mood disorder. For investigating the role of estrogen and prolactin, the author checked the plasma prolactin and estradiol level in 80 patients with paranoid schizophrenia and 77 patients with RA. The results were as follows. 1) Epidemiological data The prevalence rate of RA in the schizophrenic group was 0/561 and that of RA in the mood disorder group was 2/222. To compare these results between two groups, the author applied the Binomial test using the average prevalence rate of RA(0.8%) in the general population as a reference rate. The prevalence rate of RA in the schizophrenic group was significantly lower than that of RA in the general population. However, the prevalence rate of RA in the mood disorder group was not significantly different to that of RA in the general population. 2) Comparison of plasma prolactin and estradiol level between two groups. The plasma level of prolactin in the schizophrenic group was significantly higher than that of prolactin in th RA group(p=0.000). However, the plasma level of estradiol in the schizophrenic group was significantly lower than that of estradiol in the RA group(p=0.017). These results were not consistent across gender. To contrast with the results in the female group, which were consistent with the results in the total subjects, for the male group, the plasma levels of prolactin and estradiol in the schizophrenic group were significantly higher than those of prolactin and estradiol in th RA group. These results support the results of previous studies which confirm the negative association between schizophrenia and RA. These results also suggest that the elevation of plasma prolactin level in the patient with schizophrenia has a antirheumatic effect while the elevation of plasma estradiol level in the patients with RA has a anti-schizophrenic effect, and that these effects act as a possible mechanism in the negative association between two disorders. However, these results suggest that this association is specific to female patients.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Epidemiology* ; Estradiol ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mood Disorders ; Plasma ; Prevalence ; Prolactin* ; Schizophrenia* ; Schizophrenia, Paranoid

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the histologic difference that occured after trichloroacetic acid(TCA) chemical peel in an animal model that was pretreated with Tretinoin alone or Tretinoin-based combined pretreatment kit. Eight Hartley white guinea pigs were used in our study. The dorsal skin of the guinea pigs was divided into six equal squares(2x2 cm). Upper two areas of these six were not pretreated, middle two areas were pretreated for 4 weeks with Tretinoin alone and lower two areas were pretreated for 4 weeks with Tretinoin-based combined kit. Each guinea pig underwent chemical peel with 50% TCA. The wounded areas were biopsied at post-peeling 3 weeks and 6 weeks. The histology revealed that those animals pretreated with combined kit healed quicker than the animals pretreated with Tretinoin alone. This study implies that if patients are treated with Tretinoin-based-combined pretreatment kit before undergoing chemical peel, the pretreatment time will be shortened.
Animals ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Skin ; Tretinoin* ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.
Breast Implants* ; Breast* ; Contracture* ; Pregnancy*

BACKGROUND: Genus of Aspergilli are ubiquitous saprophytic molds in nature, but its change from a saprophytic fungus to a pathogenic organism has occurred since the use of various antibiotics. The fungus affects the chronically ill and debilitated population. Recently frequency of the fungal infection is increasing in Korea with abuse of antibiotics and glucocorticoids. METHOD: We analyzed medical records of 52 patients with pulmonary aspergillosis seen at Hanyang University Hospital from 1980 to 1994. The results were as follows; RESULTS: 1) Ages ranged between second to eighth decades with majority(50%) in the fourth to fifth decades. The male to female ratio was 1.1:1. 2) Hemoptysis and productive cough, the leading symptoms, occurred in 42.3% and 25% respectively. 3) On chest X-ray fingings, the characteristic 'fungus ball' pattern were observed in 53.8% of the 52 cases. 4) Sputum culture for aspergilli were positive in 21.6% of the cases. We performed foe needle aspiration in 22 patients and the diagnostic yield was 100%. 5) Thirty-six patients had history of treatment with antituberculous drugs under diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis for an average of 27.3 months. But sputum analysis for acid-fast bacilli were positive in 5.6%(2cases of 36cases), and postoperative pathologic findings showed that 38.9% (12 cases of 28cases) were combined with tuberculosis. 6) Right upper and left upper lobes were predominantly involved(34.6% and 19.2% respectively) and lobectomies were performed in 21 cases. 7) Underlying diseases were present in 47 cases and 48.9% of them were pulmonary tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: These results showed that pulmonary aspergillosis usually develops in patients with open cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis. And we must consider the possibility of pulmonary aspergillosis in a patient with hemoptysis and cavitary lung lesion.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Aspergillus ; Chronic Disease ; Cough ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fungi ; Glucocorticoids ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Male ; Medical Records ; Needles ; Pulmonary Aspergillosis* ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

No abstract available.
Fetal Development* ; Pregnancy*