For parthenogenetic activation as a model system of nuclear transfer, microinjection and electroporation as activation treatments in bovine metaphase II oocytes were administered to each of three groups as follows: control group (treatments with Ca2+, Mg2+ -free PBS+100 micro M EGTA), IP3 group (control+25 micro M IP3) and IP3+ ryanodine group (control+25 micro M IP3+10 mM ryanodine). In experiments using microinjection, no significant differences were observed between any of the developmental stages of the electroporation experiment. For electroporation, cleavage rates were significantly higher in the IP3+ryanodine group than in the IP3 or control group (85.6% vs 73.7% or 67.6%, respectively). In the subsequent stages of embryonic development, such as morula and blastocyst formation, the IP3 and ryanodine group exhibited significantly higher rates of morula fomation than the IP3 or control groups (40.6% vs 24.2% or 16.7%, respectively). Similarly, the rate of blastocyst formation in the IP3+ryanodine group was significantly higher than the control group (16.3% vs 6.9%) but did not differ significantly from the IP3 group (16.3% vs 9.5%). In nuclear transfer, activation was performed at 30 hpm by microinjection and elecroporation with 25 micro M IP3+ 10 mM ryanodine followed by 6-DMAP treatment. No significant differences were observed at any stage of embryonic development and none of the embryos activated by electroporation reached either the morula or blastocyst stage. However, 3.8% and 1.9% of embryos activated by microinjection sucessfully developed to the morula and blastocyst stages, respectively. In conclusion, activation treatments using IP3 and ryanodine are able to support the development of bovine parthenogenetic and reconstructed embryos.
Adenine/administration & dosage/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Animals ; Cattle/*embryology/physiology ; Cell Fusion ; Electroporation/veterinary ; Embryonic and Fetal Development/*drug effects ; Enzyme Inhibitors/administration & dosage/pharmacology ; Female ; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Microinjections/veterinary ; Nuclear Transfer Techniques ; Oocytes/drug effects/growth & development ; Parthenogenesis/*drug effects ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; Ryanodine/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Skin/cytology

The present work was to observe the wormicidal effects of the external mucous substance of Carassius carassius and Pseudorasbora parva on cercaria, metacercaria (liberating) and adult of Clonorchis sinensis. The mucous substance which was extracted by ether was separated into various spots on the silica gel thin layer chromatography and separated into various fractions in the silica gel column chromatography, using petroleum ether(30 percent) and chloroform(70 percent) as solvent. R(f) 0.952 value of the silica gel thin layer chromatography and the first fraction (reddish yellow) frorn the silica gel column chromatography of the ether extracts from C. carassius had the wormicidal effect on all of the developing stages of C. sinensis. Cercaria was killed within 14 minutes, metacercaria within 27 minutes and adult 2.5 hours by the first fraction. But in the normal saline solution (control) and in the other fraction, cercaria and metacercaria were alive more than 24 hours and adult more than 72 hours. The extracts from the mucous substance of P. parva that is well penetrated by cercaria had no wormicidal effect on them.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; clonorchiasis-Clnorchis sinensis ; metacercaria ; Carassius carassius ; Pseudorasbora parva ; mucous substance ; chromatography

Low back pain and sciatica is a common cause of physical disability and reduces the activity of the patient, which have a negative effect to a society and enigmatic to the concerned physician. Concerning to thecauses of low back pain and sciatica, direct mechanical compression exerted by protruded disc material on nerve roots has been widely accepted as a main factor. There is, however, a good deal of indirect evidence, which suggests that inflammatory changes, present in and around affected nerve roots, may also be of importance in the production of the pain. One hundred and twelve patients suffering from low back pain and/or sciatica.have been treated by epidural injection of methyl-prednisolone acetate 80mg and l% lidocaine 4cc, at Wonju Christian Hospital, Yonsei University Wonju Medical College from June, 1979 to April, 1983. Present study was done to analyse the effect of epidural steroid injection on low back pain and sciatica. The success of the injection was assessed strictly according to the subjective response of the patient. The results of this study are as follow: The overall effect of the epidural steroid injection; 26 patients(23%) were completely relieved of symptoms, 33 patients(29%) were markedly improved, 23 patients(21%,) were moderately improved, 30 patients(27%) stated that they had no relief from the injection. 2. As for a major causative disease of low back pain and sciatica, herniated lumbar disc, 65 patients(58%), was found. Secondly, 12 patients(11%) was degenerative spondylitis and 11 patients (10%) was lumbar sprain. 3. The patients who had only low back pain or sciatica without neurologic deficit showed much better improvement as 91 and 88. 4. A better result noted in the patients had symptoms for three months or less comparing with the patients having symptoms longer than three months. 5. The patients wiho had not been treated or concervatively treated prior to the injection represented better improvement comparing with the patients previously by surgical method. 6. Thirty eight(68%) of 56 patients who had history of trauma, and 44 patients(79%) of 56 patients who had no previous trauma history showed a moderate or better improvement. 7. No significant difference was found in the effect of injection according to ficdings of the routine roentgenography and myelography. 8. The patients who were responsible for the expenses of the treatment showed better improvement. 9. The symptoms were recurred in 19 patients(17%) within two months, and five of whom experienced marked and moderate pain improvement with second injection. The results suggest that the epidural steroid injection is relatively simple method with rere complication and more effective for treatment of low back pain and sciatica which may prevent the chronic pain when it is performed in the early stage with other conservative treatment.
Chronic Pain ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Lidocaine ; Low Back Pain ; Methods ; Myelography ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Radiography ; Sciatica ; Spondylitis ; Sprains and Strains

BACKGROUND: Mushroom poisonings are infrequent but potentially fatal. Most fatalities are due to the amatoxin containing species, particularly Amanita phalloides, Amanita virosa, Amanita verna which cause fulminant hepatic failure often with encephalopathy. METHODS: We experienced twenty two patients with acute mushroom poisoning admitted to Dong San hospital, Keimyung University through emergency department between January 1990 and September 1997. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 40.0 years and the ratio of male to female was 1 : 0.83. Seasonal distribution is 10 patients in July, 3 in August and 9 in September. The mean interval between ingestion and early symptom onset was 9.7 hours. Most of the patients had early gastrointestinal symptoms; abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. except for a patient with associated mental change. The subsequent symptoms and signs follow up admission were fulminant hepatic failure(72.7%), renal failure(31.8%), mental change(27.3%), acute pancreatitis(9.1%), pericardial effusion(4.5%) and erythematous rash(4.5%). The outcomes of the patients were recovery(72.7%), death(18.2%) and hopeless discharge(9.1%). CONCLUSION: The patients who have mushroom poisoning are misdiagnosed as having viral gastroenteritis and are discharged frequently. The doctors and people should be educated not to overlook the severity of mushroom poisoning.
Abdominal Pain ; Agaricales* ; Amanita ; Diarrhea ; Eating ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastroenteritis ; Humans ; Liver Failure, Acute ; Male ; Mushroom Poisoning* ; Nausea ; Seasons ; Vomiting

Achromobacter xylosoxidans is a non-fermentative, aerobic, oxidase, and catalase-positive Gram-negative rod similar to Pseudomonas species. This organism colonizes aquatic environments and can cause nosocomial infections, especially in patients with immune deficiency such as human immunodeficiency virus infection, cancer, cystic fibrosis, neutropenia, and immunoglobulin M deficiency. Infections are found as bacteremia, pneumonia, meningitis, urinary tract infection, abscess formation, and osteomyelitis. It is known that most effective antibiotics are piperacillin/tazobactam, meropenem, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazol. But there is no optimal antibiotic therapy so far. We present a case of Achromobacter xylosoxidans bacteremia in a 13-month-old Korean girl who had past history of neutropenia.
Abscess ; Achromobacter denitrificans* ; Achromobacter* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteremia* ; Child* ; Colon ; Cross Infection ; Cystic Fibrosis ; Female ; HIV ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Infant ; Meningitis ; Neutropenia* ; Osteomyelitis ; Oxidoreductases ; Pneumonia ; Pseudomonas ; Urinary Tract Infections

The present work which was investigated in July 1979, was to observe the wormicidal effects of the external mucous substances of 9 species of fresh water fishes (Cyprinus carpio, Parasilurus asotus, Anguilla japonica, Ophicephalus argus, Carassius carassius; golden crusian carp, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, Zacco platypus, Pseudorasbora parva and Carassius carassius; crusian carp) on cercaria, liberated metacercaria and adult of Clonorchis sinensis. The mucous substances extracted by ether from the above 9 species of fishes were separated into many spots on the silica gel thin layer chromatography, and divided into many fractions in the silica gel column chromatography which used petroleum ether (30 percent) and chloroform (70 percent) as a solvent. On the silica gel thin layer chromatography of ether extracts from 9 species of fresh water fishes, each of the Rf. values which had wormicidal effect on the cercaria of C. sinensis were different from others; Rf. value of C. carassius (crusian carp) was 0.937, 0.709 in O. argus, 0.612 in A. japonica, 0.576 in P. asotus, 0.451 in C. carpio, 0.701 in Z. platypus, 0.385 in C. carassius(golden crusian carp) and 0.15 in P. parva. Time for wormicide was different from each other, too. It took 14 min. in a case of C. carassius(crusian carp), 25 min. in Z. platypus, 26 min. in C. carassius(golden crusian carp), 28 min. in C. carpio, 30 min. in P. asotus, 35 min. in O. argus, 40 min. P. parva and 180 min. in A. japonica. But any of the spots of M. anguillicaudatus did not show wormicidal effect on the cercaria within 10 hours. In the silica gel column chromatography of ether extracts from 9 species of fresh water fishes, the fractions which had wormicidal effect on the metacercaria of C. sienesis were different from each other; in a case of C. carassius(crusian carp), the first fraction only had wormicidal effect, the 2nd in P. asotus, the 3rd in O. argus, the 4th in C. carassius(golden crusian carp), the 2nd in C. carpio and the 4th in P. parva. Time for wormicide was 40 min. in C. carassius(crusian carp), 52 min. in P. asotus, 74 min. in C. carassius(golden crusian carp), 92 min. in O. argus, 95 min. in C. carpio and 140 min. in P. parva, but any of the fractions of A. japonicas, M. anguillicaudatus and Z. platypus did not show wormicidal effect within 10 hours. The fractions which had wormicidal effect on the metacercaria of C. sinensis had also the same effect on the adult, but it took longer time to kill them. It took 3 hours in a case of C. carassius(crusian carp), 4 hrs. in C. carassius(golden crusian carp), 5 hrs. in P. asotus, 6 hrs. and 6 min. in O. argus, 6 hrs. and 10 min. in C. carpio and half and 6 hrs. in P. parva. But any of the fractions of A. japonica, M. anguillicaudatus and Z. platypus did not show wormicidal effect within 24 hrs.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Clonorchis sinensis ; mucous substance ; Cyprinus carpio ; Parasilurus asotus ; Anguilla japonica ; Ophicephalus argus ; Carassius carassius ; Misgurnus anguillicaudatus ; Zacco platypus ; Pseudorasbora parva

PURPOSE: Thallium behaves similarly to potassium in vivo. Potassium channel opener (K-opener) opens ATP-sensitive K+/-channel located at cell membrane, resulting in potassium efflux from cytosol. We have previously reported that K-opener can alter biokinetics of Tl-201 in cultured cells and in vivo. Malignant tumor cells have high Na-K ATPase activity due to increased metabolic activities and dedifferentiation, and differential delineation of malignant tumor can be possible with Tl-201 imaging. K-opener may affect tumoral uptake of Tl-201 in vivo. To investigate the effects of pinacidil (one of the potent K-openers) on the localization of the tumor with Tl-201 chloride, we evaluated the changes in biodistribution of Tl-201 with pinacidil treatment in tumor-bearing mice. MATERAL AND METHODS: Balb/c mice received subcutaneous implantation of murine breast cancer cells in the thigh and were used for biodistribution study 3 weeks later. 100 microgram of pinacidil dissolved in 200 microliter DMSO/PBS solution was injected intravenously via tail vein at 10 min after 185 KBq (5 microcurie) Tl-201 injection. Percentage organ uptake and whole body retention ratio of Tl-201 were measured at various periods after injection, and values were compared between control and pinacidil-treated mice. RESULTS: Pinacidil treatment resulted in mild decrease in blood levels of Tl-201, but renal uptakes were markedly decreased at 30-min, 1- and 2-hour, compared to control group. Hepatic, intestinal and muscular uptake were not different. Absolute percentage uptake and tumor to blood ratios of Tl-201 were lower in pinacidil treated mice than in the control group at all time points measured. Whole body retention ratio of Tl-201 was lower in pinacidil treated mice (58+/-4%), than in the control group (67+/-3%) at 24 hours after with injection of 100 microgram pinacidil. CONCLUSION: K-opener did not enhance, but rather decreased absolute tumoral uptake and tumor-to-blood ratios of Tl-201. Decreased whole body retention ratio and renal uptake were observed with pinacidil treatment in tumor-bearing mice.
Adenosine Triphosphatases ; Animals ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cell Membrane ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytosol ; Mice* ; Pinacidil* ; Potassium ; Potassium Channels ; Thallium ; Thigh ; Veins

Acalculous cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder in the absence of gallstones. Diagnosing this condition is often difficult because of the patient's debilitated medical condition and because of the limitation of biliary imaging technique. Nonetheless, its recognition and therapy are critically important, for if left untreated, many patients will die. During 10 years and 6 months from January 1986 to June 1996, 52 patients underwent assessment and treatment for acalculous cholecystitis at the Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital. A clinical analysis of those patients was done and the following results were obtained: The incidence rate was 3.5%. The most prevalent age group was the seventh decade (13cases), and the male-to-female ratio was 1.4 : 1. Possible etiologic factors were found in 25 cases (48.1%). These factors were surgery in 5 cases (9.6%), trauma in 5 cases (9.6%), sepsis in 5 cases (9.6%), clonorchiasis in 5 cases (9.6%), and others in 5 cases(9.6%). Neither Ascariasis nor Salmonellosis was found as a predisposing factor in this study.The main cardinal symptoms and physical signs were similar to those of calculous cholecystitis. The sensitivities of diagnostic imaging by ultrasonography and computed tomography were 88.4% and 100%, respectively. Of the 52 patients, 46 cases underwent cholecystectomy, and 6 cases were initially treated by percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy. Of these 6 cases, two patients had cholecystostomies during subsequent abdominal operations for other conditions. Two patients had the cholecystostomy tube removed 2 months after an uneventful recovery and have had no further biliary problems. The other two patients died. The operative findings were cholecystitis only in 26 cases (56.5%), cholecystitis with localized peritonitis in 18 cases (39.1%), and cholecystitis with generalized peritonitis in 2 cases (4.3%). Postoperative complications occurred in 16 cases (34.8%), and wound infection was the most common complication (62.5% of all complications).The overall mortality was 9.6%. Conclusively, acalculous cholecystitis had high morbidity and mortality in this study. Once the diagnosis of acalculous cholecystitis is made, the gallbladder should be drained or removed. A decision as to the best approach depends on the specific situation and will require close cooperation between the internist, the surgeon, and the radiologist.
Acalculous Cholecystitis* ; Ascariasis ; Causality ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystitis ; Cholecystostomy ; Clonorchiasis ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Gallbladder ; Gallstones ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Mortality ; Peritonitis ; Postoperative Complications ; Salmonella Infections ; Sepsis ; Ultrasonography ; Wound Infection

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of curative emergency surgery for complicated colon cancer in terms of tumor recurrence and survival compared with that of elective surgery. METHODS: A total of 238 primary surgeries for colon cancer were performed. All patients were deemed to have undergone a curative resection. Patients were classified into an emergency surgery group for complicated colon cancers (n=40) and an elective surgery group for uncomplicated colon cancers (n=198). RESULTS: Emergency colonic cancers present at a more advanced stage (P=0.002). The postoperative mortality rate in the emergency group was significantly higher than it was in the elective group (15.0% vs. 2.5%, P= 0.004). There were differences between the two groups in tumor recurrence (32.5% vs. 13.1%, P=0.003), overall survival (52.5% vs. 71.7%, P=0.017), and disease-free survival (50.0% vs. 69.7%, P=0.016). However, after the patients were stratified according to tumor stage, no statistical differences were observed. CONCLUSIONS: When compared with uncomplicated colon cancers, complicated colon cancers present at a more advanced stage with a higher postoperative mortality and an overall worse prognosis. However, the difference decreases when patients are stratified according to the tumor stage. The negative prognostic efficacy of emergency surgery for complicated colon cancers appears to be confined to the perioperative period. Despite the more advanced stage of tumors in patients undergoing emergency surgery, the aim of the surgeon should be to offer a curative resection for better survival, if possible.
Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Emergencies* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Perioperative Period ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is a small-bodied, popular New World monkey and is used widely in reproductive biology, neuroscience, and drug development, due to its comparative ease of handling, high reproductive efficiency, and its unique behavioral characters. In this review, we discuss the marmoset models in Parkinson's disease (PD), which is a neurological movement disorder primarily resulting from a degeneration of dopaminergic neurons with clinical features of tremor, rigidity, postural instability, and akinesia. The most common PD models involve the administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) or 6-hydroxydopamine to study the pathogenesis and to evaluate novel therapies. Following the systemic or local administration of these neurotoxins, the marmosets with very severe Parkinson's symptoms are recommended to be placed in an intensive care unit with artificial feeding to increase survival rate. All procedures with MPTP should be conducted in a special room with enclosed cages under negative-pressure by trained researchers with personal protection. Behavioral tests are conducted to provide an external measure of the brain pathology. Along with several biomarkers, including alpha-synuclein and DJ-1, non-invasive neuroimaging techniques such as positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are used to evaluate the functional changes associated with PD. With the recent growing interest in potential and novel therapies such as stem cell and gene therapy for PD in Korea, the marmoset can be considered as a suitable non-human primate model in PD research to bridge the gap between rodent studies and clinical applications.
1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine ; alpha-Synuclein ; Animals* ; Biomarkers ; Biology ; Brain Diseases ; Callithrix* ; Dopaminergic Neurons ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Methods* ; Models, Animal ; Movement Disorders ; Neuroimaging ; Neurosciences ; Neurotoxins ; Nutritional Support ; Oxidopamine ; Parkinson Disease* ; Platyrrhini ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Primates ; Rodentia ; Stem Cells ; Survival Rate ; Tremor