No abstract available.
Hydranencephaly*

No abstract available.
Cervix Uteri* ; Female

The thymus is the central lymphoid organ for development of bone marrow-derived precursor cells into mature T-cells. The thymic stroma provides the specialized microenvironment for the proliferation, differentiation, and maturation of the immature T-cells, thymocytes. The CD27 is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family member whose expression is limited to cells of the lymphoid lineage. CD70, the ligand of CD27, is a TNF related trans-membrane protein induced upon activation on T and B cells, dendritic cells and macrophages. CD70/CD27 interaction plays a key role in T dependent B cell responses and is responsible for plasma cell differentiation. This study was performed to investigate the expression of CD70 during regeneration following acute involution induced by cyclophosphamide (CY) in the rat thymus using RT-PCR analysis and single and double immunohistochemistry. The results from RT-PCR analysis showed that CD70 is expressed in mouse thymic medullary interdigitating (IDC)-like cells (MDC), DC2.4 and Raw264.7 but not expressed in the mouse thymic epithelial cells (subcapsular/cortex epithelial cells, cortical epithelial cells and medullary epithelial cells). Interestingly, upregulation of CD70 expression was observed in the thymic stromal cells and thymocytes isolated from rat thymus during thymus regeneration. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry demonstrated that CD70 was mainly expressed in the ED1 positive macrophages predominantly in the thymic cortex both in the normal thymus and during thymus regeneration. In line with the data obtained by biochemical analysis, CD70 immunoreactive macrophages is increased both in number and in size during thymus regeneration. Thus, the results of the present study suggest that CD70 expressed on the thymic macrophages could play a role in the development of new T cells to replace T cells damaged by cyclophosphamide treatment during thymus regeneration.
Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; Cyclophosphamide ; Dendritic Cells ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Macrophages ; Mice ; Plasma Cells ; Rats* ; Regeneration* ; Stromal Cells ; T-Lymphocytes ; Thymocytes ; Thymus Gland* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Up-Regulation

PURPOSE: We evaluates if the administration of tamsulosin increases the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in the patients with upper ureteral stones and if this decreased the use of analgesic drugs after the procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 45 patients with stones 6-12mm in size that were located in the upper ureter were enrolled in the study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 (n=23) received 3 times a day oral treatment of 20mg caroverine (a spasmolytic drug). Group 2 (n=22) received one time a day oral therapy of 0.2mg tamsulosin. All the patients received oral treatment for 14 days. Both groups of patients were allowed to use 30mg ketorolac trimethamine intramuscular injections on demand. The endpoint of the study was the stone expulsion rate, the use of analgesics and the drug adverse effects during treatment. RESULTS: The average stone size was 7.9+/-2.79mm for group 1 and 8.2+/-3.14mm for group 2. No statistical difference between the two groups was found for the stone size, age and gender distribution. The expulsion rate was significantly higher in group 2 (90.9%) compared with group 1 (65.2%) (p=0.038). The average number of pain control injections was 0.78 for group 1 and 0.23 for group 2, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.042). CONCLUSIONS: The use of tamsulosin proved to be effective and safe, as demonstrated by the increased stone expulsion rate and the lesser need for pain control than that when using just a spasmolytic drug for ESWL of upper ureter stones.
Analgesics ; Humans ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Ketorolac ; Lithotripsy* ; Shock* ; Ureter* ; Urinary Calculi

PURPOSE: Chronic prostatitis displays various pathophysiologies due to various causes, and is a life time affliction, but the diagnosis and treatment are still unclear. Therefore, it is important to find if some elements influence the incidence and progress of the disease; attempts were made to recognize the risk factors for chronic prostatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 184 chronic prostatitis patients were selected, and divided, after treatment, into the improvement (IG; n=147) and non-improvement groups (NIG; n=37). 40 healthy men were chosen as the control group (CG) for a comparative analysis. Subjects were investigated for their professional stati and form of work, driving, motorcycle or bicycle utilization, drinking, smoking, sex and their style of diet. RESULTS: The ratio of sedentary desk workers in the NIG (73.0%) was higher than in the other groups. The ratio of those that drove for more than 1 hour was much high in the NIG by 54.1%. The ratio of the people who ejaculated more than once a week, either through sexual intercourse or masturbation, was lower in the NIG by 56.5%, but that of people who ejaculated every day was higher in the NIG (13.5%). People drinking more than once a week was greater in the NIG (67.6%), and those who drank more than 1 bottle of Korean wine, Soju, were showed an expressively higher ratio in the NIG (72.0%). In relation to dietary behavior, the NIG showed a high ratio (73.0%) for a preference for salty food only. CONCLUSIONS: Factors that may influence the prognosis of chronic prostatitis are thought to be the form of profession, number ejaculations, frequency and amount of drinking, an a habit of eating salty food. Therefore, these factors should be considered together when looking for a cure for chronic prostatitis.
Coitus ; Diagnosis ; Diet ; Drinking ; Eating ; Ejaculation ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Masturbation ; Motorcycles ; Prognosis ; Prostatitis* ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Wine

No abstract available.
Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal* ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating*

Although many techniques are available to assess enamel erosion in vitro, a simple, non-destructive method with sufficient sensitivity for quantifying dental erosion is required. This study characterized the bovine dental enamel erosion induced by various acidic beverages in vitro using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Deionized water (control) and 10 acidic beverages were selected to study erosion, and the pH and neutralizable acidity were measured. Bovine anterior teeth (110) were polished with up to 1 200-grit silicon carbide paper to produce flat enamel surfaces, which were then immersed in 20 mL of the beverages for 30 min at 37 °C. The degree of erosion was evaluated using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and Vickers’ microhardness measurements. The spectra obtained were interpreted in two ways that focused on the ν1, ν3 phosphate contour: the ratio of the height amplitude of ν3 PO4 to that of ν1 PO4 (Method 1) and the shift of the ν3 PO4 peak to a higher wavenumber (Method 2). The percentage changes in microhardness after the erosion treatments were primarily affected by the pH of the immersion media. Regression analyses revealed highly significant correlations between the surface hardness change and the degree of erosion, as detected by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy (Po0.001). Method 1 was the most sensitive to these changes, followed by surface hardness change measurements and Method 2. This study suggests that ATRFTIR spectroscopy is potentially advantageous over the microhardness test as a simple, non-destructive, sensitive technique for the quantification of enamel erosion.

PURPOSE: To compare the accuracy of lateral radiography of the spine with that of morphometric X-rayabsorptiometry(MXA) in vertebral morphometry, and to evaluate normal vertebral morphometry using MXA in Koreanwomen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A spine phantom was constructed using copper pipe. Its anterior and posteriorheights were measured directly, with lateral radiographs and with MXA, and the values thus obtained were compared.Inter -and intra -observer variations were evaluated by three radiologists. The vertebral morphometry of 30 youngwomen volunteers were imaged using thoracic and lumbar lateral radiographs and MXA, and analysis included themeasurement of anterior and posterior heights from T4 to L4. We also obtained the vertebral morphometry of 200normal Korean women who underwent MXA between March 1995 and February 1996, though those with osteoporosis andother spinal lesions were excluded from this study. Thoracolumbar vertebral indexes were statistically correlatedwith age, height and bone mineral. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the heights ofspine phantom measured by MXA compared with actual size (mean difference=0.28mm). Simple radiographs weremagnified by 23.7% at a phantom-table distance of 15cm, and distortion ranged from 0.5% to 22.5%, depending onphantom level and phantom-table distance. In the study of volunteers, the magnification rate between a simpleradiograph and MXA was about 26.6%. Anterior height increased progressively from the thoracic to the lumbar spine,though posterior height peaked at L2, and L4 was less than anterior height. In Korean women, indices of vertebralmorphometry decreased significantly with aging, with the most prominent decrease occurring during the seventhdecade. The mineral density of spinal bone decreased markedly after the sixth decade. CONCLUSION: Radiographsshowed more magnification and distortion than did MXA, though between morphometric X-ray absorptiometry (MXA) andactual size, there was no significant difference. The vertebral morphometric indices of Korean women and referredbone mineral density may provide useful data for determining and evaluating follow-up changes in spinalmorphology.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Aging ; Copper ; Female ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; Radiography ; Spine* ; Volunteers

PURPOSE: The clinical usefulness of hyaluronic acid (HA) instillation during visual internal urethrotomy (VIU) for decreasing the incidence of recurrent urethral stricture was assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight patients were treated by VIU with HA instillation between May 2007 and June 2009. After insertion of a Foley catheter following urethrotomy, HA was instilled via an 18-gauge tube catheter between the urethral lumen and Foley catheter. Seventeen cases were analyzed retrospectively 12 months postoperatively. We evaluated the success rate of this procedure by comparing retrograde urethrography (RGU) results, maximum flow rates, and postvoid residual urine volumes preoperatively and 3 and 12 months postoperatively. Success was defined as either a maximum flow rate of at least 15 ml/s or no visible urethral stricture on RGU at 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Total success rates were 76.5% (13/17) and 52.9% (9/17) at 3 and 12 months postoperatively, respectively. By etiology, success rates at 3 and 12 months postoperatively, respectively, were 66.7% and 33.3% for inflammation, 66.7% and 50.0% for trauma, and 83.3% and 66.7% for unknown causes. Success rates were 63.6% for strictures less than 10 mm in length and 33.3% for strictures of 10 mm or more in length at 12 months postoperatively. Success rates were 61.5% for single strictures and 25% for multiple strictures at 12 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The success rate of VIU with HA instillation was not better than that observed in the literature for conventional VIU.
Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Retrospective Studies ; Urethral Stricture

Elevated expression of protein casein kinase II (CKII) stimulated basal phospholipase D (PLD) activity as well as PMA-induced PLD activation in human U87 astroglioma cells. Moreover, CKII-selective inhibitor, emodin and apigenin suppressed PMA-induced PLD activation in a dose-dependent manner as well as basal PLD activity, suggesting the involvement of CKII in the activation of both PLD1 and PLD2. CKII was associated with PLD1 and PLD2 in co-transfection experiments. Furthermore, CKII induced serine/threonine phosphorylation of PLD2 in vivo, and the multiple regions of PLD2 were phosphorylated by CKII in vitro kinase assay using glutathione S-transferase-PLD2 fusion protein fragments. Elevated expression of CKII or PLD increased cell proliferation but pretreatment of cells with 1-butanol suppressed CKII-induced cell proliferation. These results suggest that CKII is involved in proliferation of U87 cells at least in part, through stimulation of PLD activity.
1-Butanol/pharmacology ; Astrocytoma/*enzymology/metabolism/pathology ; Blotting, Western ; Casein Kinase II/analysis/*pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Enzyme Activation ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Glutathione Transferase/metabolism ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Phospholipase D/genetics/*metabolism ; Phosphorylation/drug effects ; Precipitin Tests ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate/pharmacology