No abstract available.
Cisplatin* ; Drug Therapy* ; Humans ; Ifosfamide* ; Paclitaxel*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many authors(Simmons,1973, McGath et al.,1989) described that a small percentage(1-2 %) of patients initially complaining of vertigo was found to have bilateral vestibular failure (BLVF). This study evaluates the findings of vestibular function test (VFT) including rotating chair test (ROT) and computerized dynamic posturography test (CDP) in the patients with BLVF demonstrated by caloric test and others. Method : 400 vertigo patients were given VFT from June,1994 to October,1995. In the patients who had absent or reduced responses (total eye speed <10 degrees per second) in cold (17 C) water caloric testing or decreased responses in the range of lower fequencies during ROT, we evaluated their VFT results and clinical features. RESULTS: There were 38 cases out of total 400 patients(9.5%). Many patients with BLVF had rotational response magnitudes (at 0.04 Hz and above) that were within normal limits. CBP has shown vestibular dysfunction patterns in 32 patients. Hearing tests were normal in 9 cases and mixed hearing loss in 2 cases. Many patients experienced several episodes of acute vertigo with persistent imbalance; Only 4 patients complained of persistent oscillopsia. Viral infection (vestibuloneuronitis), immune reactions and toxic factors may play a role in the etiology of this rare BLVF. CONCLUSION: Our incidence of 9.5% is much higher than what was reported in the literature. Herb medications and frequent injections of aminoglycosides may be responsible for this higher incidence of BLVF. ROT is useful in detecting and predicting the remaining vestibular function in the BLVF patients.
Aminoglycosides ; Caloric Tests ; Electronystagmography ; Hearing Loss, Mixed Conductive-Sensorineural ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Incidence ; Vertigo ; Vestibular Function Tests* ; Water

Analysis of the cases registered for the Forensic Odontology Lab of the National Forensic Service (NFS) from April 6th, 2007 to December 2010 was performed to observe the trend and pattern of the cases, in order to propose measures for improvement in future cases both in quantity as well as quality. High rate of cases were observed from the capital area, especially in ground and mountains during warmer season from June to October. Most of the cases were of human remains requested and examined for the estimation of age, sex, stature and identification. However, some of the requested criteria were applied forensic methods such as postmortem interval, cause of death, and facial reconstruction which could not be conducted. To better fulfill the needs of the society, reform of the current registration-examination system by introducing a multi-disciplinary team for processing the scene, education of the law enforcement personnel, research and acquiring funds for the relevant areas, developing antemortem dental record database are recommended for improvement in quantity and quality of the information produced by odontology lab.
Cause of Death ; Dental Records ; Financial Management ; Forensic Anthropology ; Humans ; Law Enforcement ; Pyridines ; Research Personnel ; Seasons ; Thiazoles

The Harris line (HL), caused by bone-growth arrest and manifesting on X-rays as a radiopaque transverse line in the metaphysis of the long bones, is an indicator reflecting stress conditions such as disease or malnutrition. HL frequency has been assumed to differ between pre-modern and modern societies, as reflective of increased caloric intake and overall nutritional improvements attendant on industrialization. To determine if such a change occurred in Korea, in the present study we compared the respective HL statuses in medieval Joseon and modern Korean population samples. HLs were found in 39.4% (28/71) of the Joseon Koreans. Whereas only 27.5% (11/40) of the males showed an HL, fully 54.8% (17/31) of the females exhibited it. Notably, HLs were observed in only 16.4% (35/213) of the modern Koreans; more remarkably still, the HL rate was almost the same between the sexes, 16.7% (20/120) for the males and 16.1% (15/93) for the females. The HL frequency was much higher in the Joseon Koreans than in their modern counterparts, reflecting the improvement of nutritional status that had been achieved in the course of South Korea's modernization. This HL-frequency decrease was much more obvious in the female populations. The higher HL frequency among the Joseon females might reflect the relatively poor nutritional condition of females in pre-modern Korean society.
Energy Intake ; Female ; Humans* ; Korea* ; Male ; Malnutrition ; Nutritional Status ; Republic of Korea ; Skeleton* ; Social Change ; Tibia

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to know the applications and limitations of three dimensional volume rendering virtual endoscopy of the ossicles using a multi-row detector CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study examined 25 patients who underwent temporal bone CT using a 16-row detector CT as a result of hearing problems or trauma. The axial CT scan of the temporal bone was performed with a 0.6 mm collimation, and a reconstruction was carried out with a U70u Sharp of kernel value, a 1 mm thickness and 0.5-1.0 mm increments. After observing the ossicles in the axial and coronal images, virtual endoscopy was performed using a three dimensional volume rendering technique with a threshold value of -500 HU. The intra-operative otoendoscopy was performed in 12 ears, and was compared with the virtual endoscopy findings. RESULTS: Virtual endoscopy of the 29 ears without hearing problems demonstrated hypoplastic or an incomplete depiction of the stapes superstructures in 25 ears and a normal depiction in 4 ears. Virtual endoscopy of 21 ears with hearing problems demonstrated no ossicles in 1 ear, no malleus in 3 ears, a malleoincudal subluxation in 6 ears, a dysplastic incus in 5 ears, an incudostapedial subluxation in 9 ears, dysplastic stapes in 2 ears, a hypoplastic or incomplete depiction of the stapes in 16 ears and no stapes in 1 ear. In contrast to the intra-operative otoendoscopy, 8 out of 12 ears showed a hypoplastic or deformed stapes in the virtual endoscopy. CONCLUSION: Volume rendering virtual endoscopy using a multi-row detector CT is an excellent method for evaluation the ossicles in three dimension, even though the partial volume effect for the stapes superstructures needs to be considered.
Ear ; Endoscopy* ; Hearing ; Humans ; Incus ; Malleus ; Stapes ; Temporal Bone ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To evaluate changes in total cerebral blood flow (tCBF) with aging, parenchymal volume changes and vascular abnormalities, using 2 dimensional (D) phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Routine brain MRI including T2 weighted image, time-of-flight (TOF) MR Angiography (MRA) and 2D PC MRI were performed in 73 individuals, including 12 volunteers. Normal subjects (12 volunteers, and 21 individuals with normal MRI and normal MRA) were classified into groups according to age (18 -29, 30 -49 and 50 -66 years). For the group with abnormalities in brain MRIs, cerebral parenchymal volume changes were scored according to the T2 weighted images, and atherosclerotic changes were scored according to the MRA findings. Abnormal groups were classified into 4 groups: (i) mild reduction in volume, (ii) marked reduction in volume by parenchymal volume and atherosclerotic changes, and (iii) increased volume and (iv) Moya-moya disease. Volumetric flow was measured at the internal carotid artery (ICA) and vertebral artery bilaterally using the velocity-flow diagrams from PC MRI, and combined 4 vessel flows and tCBF were compared among all the groups. RESULTS: The age-specific distribution of tCBFs in normal subjects were as follows: 12.0 +/- 2.1 ml/sec in 18 -29 years group, 11.8 +/- 1.9 ml/sec in 30 -49 years group, 10.9 +/-2.2 ml/sec in 50 -66 years group. The distribution of tCBFs in the different subsets of the abnormal population were as follows: 9.5 +/-2.5 ml/sec in the group with mild reduction in volume, 7.6 +/-2.0 ml/sec in the group with marked reduction in volume, and 7.3 +/-1.2 ml/sec and 7.0 +/- 1.1 ml/sec in the increased parenchymal volume and Moya-moya disease groups respectively. CONCLUSION: Total cerebral blood flow decreases with increasing age with a concomitant reduction in parenchymal volumes and increasing atherosclerotic changes. It is also reduced in the presence of increased parenchymal volume and Moya-moya disease. 2D PC MRI can be used as a tool to evaluate tCBF with aging and in the presence of various conditions that can affect parenchymal volume and cerebral vasculature.
Aging* ; Angiography ; Brain ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Moyamoya Disease ; Vertebral Artery ; Volunteers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been known that the dominant driver of atrial fibrillation (AF) exists in the left atrium (LA) and the incidence of systemic thromboembolism is higher than that of pulmonary thromboembolism in patients with AF. Therefore, we hypothesized that histological and biochemical characteristics of the LA and the right atrium (RA) are different in patients with mitral valvular AF. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We analyzed the histology and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) or protein expression associated with endothelial function and thrombogenesis in 33 human atrial appendage tissues (20 LA tissues, 13 RA tissues) taken from 25 patients {57.7+/-11.3 years old, 44% males, AF: sinus rhythm (SR)=17:8} with mitral valve disease. We also performed whole mRNA quantification in 8 tissues (both LA and RA tissues from 4 patients) by using next generation sequencing (NGS). RESULTS: 1) The degree of fibrosis (p=0.001) and subendocardial smooth muscle thickness (p=0.004) were significantly greater in the LA than in the RA. 2) More advanced matrix fibrosis was found in the LA of patients with AF than in the LA of patients with SR (p=0.046), but not in the RA. 3) There was no LA-RA difference in protein (Western blot) and mRNA {quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR)} expressions of NF-kappaB, 3-NT, CD31, E-selectin, inducible NO synthase, stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha, Endothelin-1, platelet-derived growth factor, myeloperoxidase, or NCX, except for higher mRNA expression of HCN4 in the RA (qRT-PCR, p=0.026) and that of KCNN1 in the LA (NGS, p=0.016). CONCLUSION: More advanced matrix and subendocardial remodeling were noticed in the LA than in the RA in patients with mitral valvular AF. However, the expressions of tissue factors associated with thrombogenesis were not significantly different between the RA and the LA.
Atrial Appendage ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; E-Selectin ; Endothelin-1 ; Fibrosis ; Heart Atria* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Muscle, Smooth ; NF-kappa B ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Peroxidase ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Thromboembolism ; Thromboplastin

Sauchinone has been known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. We determined whether sauchinone is beneficial in regional myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Rats were subjected to 20 min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery, followed by 2 hr reperfusion. Sauchinone (10 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally 30 min before the onset of ischemia. The infarct size was measured 2 hr after resuming the perfusion. The expression of cell death kinases (p38 and JNK) and reperfusion injury salvage kinases (phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinases-Akt, extra-cellular signal-regulated kinases [ERK1/2])/glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3beta was determined 5 min after resuming the perfusion. Sauchinone significantly reduced the infarct size (29.0% +/- 5.3% in the sauchinone group vs 44.4% +/- 6.1% in the control, P < 0.05). Accordingly, the phosphorylation of JNK and p38 was significantly attenuated, while that of ERK1/2, Akt and GSK-3beta was not affected. It is suggested that sauchinone protects against regional myocardial I/R injury through inhibition of phosphorylation of p38 and JNK death signaling pathways.
Animals ; Benzopyrans/*pharmacology ; Dioxoles/*pharmacology ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3/metabolism ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1/metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3/metabolism ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/*metabolism/pathology/prevention & control ; Phosphorylation ; Protective Agents/*pharmacology ; Rats ; Signal Transduction/*drug effects ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*metabolism

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Apoptosis has been known to be an important mechanism of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Survivin, which belongs to the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, is associated with apoptosis and alteration of the cardiac myocyte molecular pathways. Therefore, we investigated the anti-apoptotic effect and cellular mechanisms of survivin using a protein delivery system in a doxorubicin-induced cardiac myocyte injury model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We constructed a recombinant survivin which was fused to the protein transduction domain derived from HIV-TAT protein. In cultured H9c2 cardiac myocytes, TAT-survivin (1 microM) was added for 1 hour prior to doxorubicin (1 microM) treatment for 24 hours. Cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated by 2-(4,5-dimethyltriazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay, caspase-3 activity, and terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling assay. We measured the expression levels of several apoptosis-related signal proteins. RESULTS: The survivin level was significantly reduced in a dose dependent manner up to 1 microM of doxorubicin in concentration. Purified recombinant TAT-survivin protein was efficiently delivered to H9c2 cardiac myocytes, and its transduction showed an anti-apoptotic effect, demonstrated by reduced caspase-3 activity and the apoptotic index, concomitantly with increased cell viability against doxorubicin injury. The phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and the release of Smac from mitochondria were suppressed and the expression levels of Bcl-2 and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), the transcription factor of Bcl-2, were recovered following TAT-survivin transduction, indicating that survivin had an anti-apoptotic effect against doxorubicin injury. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that survivin has a potentially cytoprotective effect against doxorubicin-induced cardiac myocyte apoptosis through mechanisms that involve a decrease in the phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase, mitochondrial Smac release, and increased expression of Bcl-2 and CREB.
Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; Doxorubicin ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Mitochondria ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Transcription Factors

Angiomyolipomas commonly originate from renal parenchyma but extremely rarely from perinephric space. We report a case of angiomyolipoma of the perinephric space confirmed by radical nephrectomy. A 13-year-old boy presented with left flank pain and abdominal distension, first experienced five months earlier. Ultrasonography and CT indicated that in the space surrounding the left kidney, a huge fat-containing mass with linear strands was present.
Adolescent ; Angiomyolipoma* ; Flank Pain ; Humans ; Kidney ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Ultrasonography