No abstract available.
Animals ; Astrocytes* ; Interleukin-1* ; Interleukin-10* ; Interleukin-12* ; Interleukin-1beta* ; Interleukin-2* ; Interleukin-6* ; Melanoma* ; Mice* ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*

In this study, the distribution and reisolation of Mycoplasma pneumoniae(Mp) were observed from the various tissues of BALB/c mice which were intraperitoneally pre-inoculated with Mp. In addition, the effect of Mp on the growth, phagocytic activities and nitric oxide production of microglial cells were also examined. The results were as follows; 1) Mp was reisolated from the various tissues such as lymph node, spleen, liver, kidney, brain and blood from one hour through 48 hours after intra-peritoneal inoculation of Mp in mice by the cultural method. Furthermore, it could also be confirmed from those tissues up to 72 hours by the indirect immunofluorescent antibody method. 2) There was no difference in the phagocytic activities between the control microglial cells and Mp stimulated microglial cells. 3) The growth of microglial cells in the medium was significantly increased by the stimulation with Mp compared with that of the control. 4) Nitric oxide production of mouse microglial cells was increased by the combined treatment if IFN-r and LPS or IFN-r and Mp or IFN-r, LPS and Mp, whereas, no increase was observed by either LPS or Mp alone. 5) Nitric oxide production of microglial cells primed with IFN-r was closely related with the dose of LPS and Mp in the dose dependent manner rather than that of the IFN-r. These results suggest that; i) Mp spreads to the various tissues of mice within one hour after intraperitoneal inoculation, ii) the growth of microglial cells increases by the infection of Mp, iii) microglial cells have phagocytic activities to C.albicans and iv) nitric oxide production of microglial cells was augmented by the infection of Mp. Increased nitric oxide production of microglial cells is regarded as an increase of the intracellular bactericidal activiteis of microglial cells. It is suggested, nonetheless, that the inflammatory response of the Mp infected tissues is augmented by the increase of nitric oxide.
Animals ; Brain ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Mice* ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Spleen

The authors report a patient with a small traumatic cirsoid aneurysm of the scalp, diagnosed by duplex doppler ultrasonography. This 15-year-old boy was diagnosed as a cirsoid aneurysm by duplex doppler ultrasonogram which revealed an ovoid cystic lesion at left temporal area of scalp containing vascular flow mapping. The gross appearance showed an aneurysm with arteriovenous fistula, consisting of two feeding arteries and two draining veins. Total removal of mass was made and the histological examination revealed an aneurysm which showing irregular contour of inner surface and thickened fibrotic vascular wall without normal arterial layers. Noninvasive duplex doppler ultrasonography before surgical excision or direct puncture embolization of cirsoid aneurysms of the scalp could be recommended as an alternative management option.
Adolescent ; Aneurysm* ; Arteries ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Humans ; Male ; Punctures ; Scalp* ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler* ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex ; Veins

OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed to evaluate the effect of chondroitinase ABC on normal rabbit lumbar discs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of intradiscal injections of chondroitinase ABC was performed in 9 young adult rabbits. A control series of intradiscal injections of iodine contrast medium was performed in 6 young adult rabbits. Roentgenograms were taken preoperatively and were repeated at one, three, five, seven days after injection of chondroitinase ABC. Roentgenograms also were taken preoperatiely and at seven days after injection of contrast dye. Magnetic resonance imagings(MRI) scan was performed pre-operatively and at seven days after injection. Light microscopic examination of both groups was done at 7 days postinjection. RESULTS: Roentgenographic evidence of disc space narrowing showed significant correlation with time course in the series of intradiscal injections of chondroitinase ABC compared with the control series. T2 weighted MRI of disc space demonstrated significantly decreased signal intensity in the series of intradiscal injections of chondroitinase ABC at seven days after injection, as compared with the control series. Histologic evaluation revealed the stainability of nucleus pulposus and annulus to toluidine blue which was quite decreased. The cytoplasm of notochordal cells of nucleus pulposus appeared to be shrunken, and the large cytoplasmic vacuoles in hematoxylin-eosin stain were decreased in the series of intradiscal injections of chondroitinase ABC, which were not evident in the control series. CONCLUSION: Intradiscal injections of chondroitinase ABC on normal rabbit lumbar disc proven to have chemonucleolytic effects.
Chondroitin ABC Lyase* ; Cytoplasm ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Chemolysis* ; Iodine ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Notochord ; Rabbits ; Tolonium Chloride ; Vacuoles ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Foreign bodies in the airway of infant and children require prompt diagnosis and removal. To evaluate the pattern of clinical characteristics and disease course, we reviewed and analyzed a 6-year experience with pediatric airway foreign bodies in children. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of pediatric foreign body aspiration managed by pediatric and otorhinolaryngologic departments of Ajou University Hospital from November 1994 to October 2000. Nineteen cases of aspiration were collected and we analyzed their age, sex, symptoms, duration between onset of symptoms and diagnosis, initial simple radiographic findings, matierials of aspirations, anatomic location of foreign body, length of hospital day, and complications. RESULTS: The mean age was 2.7 years and male-to-female ratio of 1.8 : 1. In 11 cases, choking episode was identified by parents or patients. The correct diagnosis was made within first 24 hours of aspiration in 4 patients; while in 15 cases, the proper diagnosis was done after 24 hours. The most common presenting symptoms were cough (73.6%) and decreased breath sounds (57.9%) and the most common initial finding of simple radiographs was emphysema, presented in 68.4% of patients. Vegetable substances, particularly peanuts were the most common material of identified foreign body. Nine foreign bodies were in the right bronchus, 8 in the left bronchus and 2 in the subglottic area. The mean duration of admissions were 3.75 days in pateints who were diagnosed within 24 hours, however, 8.61 days in those with a delayed diagnosis (P=0.012). CONCLUSION: Taken together, the majority of accidental foreign body aspiration in airway was found under 3-year of age. Pediatricians and parents should be conscious to check for history of foreign body aspiration who have suspicious clinical features of aspiration, for early diagnosis and proper management without complications and long term morbidity.
Airway Obstruction ; Arachis ; Aspirations (Psychology) ; Bronchi ; Child* ; Cough ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Emphysema ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Infant ; Medical Records ; Parents ; Retrospective Studies ; Vegetables

BACKGROUND: Ultrafiltration, used in pediatric cardiac operations to remove excessive body water, can be separated into conventional and modified techniques according to the connection with the bypass circuit and the time of starting ultrafiltration. Ultrafiltration provides more precise hemodynamic and fluid management immediately after CPB (cardiopulmonary bypass), especially in the pediatric patient. The mechanism by which blood pressure improves remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of ultrafiltration for hemodynamics and reduce the blood consumption amounts in paediatric open heart operations. METHODS: Fourty children undergoing surgical correction of VSD (ventricular septal defect) or ASD (atrial septal defect) were randomly assigned to a ultrafiltration or control group. Conventional ultrafiltration was performed with a polysurphone hemofilter during rewarming of CPB. Modified ultrafiltration carried out in the first 10 to 15 minutes immediately after bypass. In all patients, moderate hypothermic CPB, in the range of 20~25 degrees C body temperature, was performed with nonpulsating flow. RESULTS: Demographic data as well as data from CPB did not differ among the groups. In the ultrafiltration group, significant reductions of the amount of blood transfusion significant increases in systolic pressure and hematocrit were noted in the ultrafiltration group. We have been impressed with what appears to be a marked improvement in hemodynamic status in the modified ultrafiltration process during the first few minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrafiltration has been employed successfully in our hospital, and this study demonstrates that ultrafiltration may help to control water balance, concentration of blood, increase systemic arterial pressure and reduces intraoperative blood transfusion.
Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Transfusion ; Body Temperature ; Body Water ; Child ; Heart ; Hematocrit ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Rewarming ; Thoracic Surgery* ; Ultrafiltration*

The authors report a case of posterior fossa dural arteriovenous malformation with increased intracranial pressure. It was fed left occipital artery, posterior auricular artery, posterior meningeal branch of vertebral artery, and meningohypophyseal artery of left internal carotid artery. Treatment has been tried with transcatheter embolization using gelfoam and ivalon, intracranial clipping of feeders, ligation of external carotid artery, and radiation therapy. The unusual clinical manifestations such as visual disturbance and hearing impairment are discussed.
Arteries ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Carotid Artery, External ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Hearing Loss ; Intracranial Pressure ; Ligation ; Vertebral Artery

PURPOSE: To evaluate the CT features of abdominal tuberculosis by the pattern anaylsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrosepctively reviewed the CT findings of confirmed abdominal tuberculosis in 16 patients. Of the 16 patients, 1 was man and the remaining 15 were women with an average age of 34.1 years and the highest incidence in the twenties of age. Intravenous and oral contrast agents were used in all patients. The amount and location of ascites and the changes in the omenturn, mesentery, bowel wall, and peritoneum were analyzed. The morphologic feature, size and main compartment of involvement were also evaluated in the cases with lymphadenopathy as well as other changes in intraabdominal organs. RESULTS: The abdominal tuberculosis was more common in the female(15/16, 93.8%) and could be classified into 3 patterns on their CT findings;Complex ascitic, lymphadenopathy, or abscess forms. The complex ascitic form(10/16, 62.5%) was most commonly seen and characterized by uneven distribution and Ioculation of intraperitoneal fluid collection and marked changes of the omenturn and mesentery. The lymphadenopathy form(3/16, 18.8%) was characterized by central low density and peripheral rim enhancement on postcontrast CT with common involvements of porta hepatis and upper abdominal and paraaortic lymph nodes. The abscess form(3/16, 18.8%) was mainly related to the pelvic abscesses. CONCLUSION: CT was valuable in analyzing the patterns of the lesions and making a diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis.
Abscess ; Ascites ; Contrast Media ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mesentery ; Peritoneum ; Tuberculosis*

OBJETIVE: To elucidate 1) whether there are any differences in the urine concentrations of steroid hormone metabolites between patients with leiomyoma and normal controls 2) the correlation between urinary profiles of steroid hormones and leiomyomas of the uterus according to their type, location, volume, and weight. MATERIALS OF METHODS: The study population consisted of 37 premenopausal patients with uterine leiomyoma and the control group consisted of 25 premenopausal normal volunteer women without uterine leiomyoma. Confirmation of the existence of uterine leiomyoma was done by ultrasonography and histopathological examination after surgery. The volume of the leiomyoma was estimated by trans-abdominal and/or trans-vaginal ultrasonography. The Leiomyomas were divided into 3 types (subserosal, intramural and submucosal). Seventeen patients had subserosal type of leiomyoma, 10 with the intramural type and 10 with the submucosal type. The locations of the leiomyoma were also divided into 3 groups (fundus, body and isthmus). Seventeen patients showed a fundus location, 10 in body, and 10 in isthmus. We compared urinary profiles of the endogenous steroids between patients with leiomyomas and normal controls, and also investigated the relationship between urinary profiles of the endogenous steroids and leiomyomas according to their type, location, volume and weight by using highly sensitive Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) system. RESULTS: The mean ages of the patients with leiomyomas and the control group were 43.1+/-5.6 and 40.6+/-7.2 years, the weights were 63.4+/-7.3 and 59.4+/-8.1 kg, and their heights were 155.4+/-4.8 and 159.3+/-4.8 cm respectively. Seventeen patients had subserosal, 10 had intramural, and 10 had submucosal leiomyomas. There were 17 patients with leiomyoma located in fundus, 10 in body and 10 in isthmus. 17beta-estradiol, 5-AT, 11-keto ET, 11beta-hydroxy An, 11beta-hydroxy Et, THS, THA, THE, alpha-cortolone, alpha-cortol, beta-cortol, 11beta-OH Et/11beta-OH An and E2/E1 were significantly increased in patients with leiomyoma than in the control group. 17beta-estradiol was significantly increased in the intramural and the submucosal types than in the subserosal type. There was no significant difference in the concentrations of urinary steroids according to the locations of leiomyomas. There was no significant relationship between the concentration of urinary steroids and the volume of the leiomyomas. 17beta-estradiol significantly decreased as the weight of uterus increased (r=-0.322, p=0.04). CONCLUSION: The concentrations of steroid hormone metabolites were generally increased in patients with leiomyoma but were not significantly related to the volume and weight of the leiomyomas. Our study suggests that steroid hormones may be involved in the initiation of leiomyomas but may not be involved in their progression. In addition, the concentrations of steroid hormone metabolites are not related to the leiomyoma type and location.
Female ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Steroids ; Ultrasonography ; Uterus* ; Weights and Measures

The diagnostic efficacy and comparability of digital infrared thermographic imaging(DITI), computerized tomographic(CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) in the assessment of outcome of chemonucleolysis for herniated soft cervical disc patients with ce rvicobrachial neuralgia were evaluated. Forty seven patients of herniated cervical discs who were treated with nucleolysis using chymopapain for last 2 years were assessed by each studying modality and clinical examinations. All the cases received DITI, CT scan and/ or MRI, and the thermal difference of each patient between symptomatic and asymptomatic limb was analyzed pre- and post-operatively. The diagnostic efficacy of each technology was similar, and inter-rater comparability did not differ significantly. DITI showed significantly good correlation with clinical outcome although there existed a considerable inaccuracy in assessing individual subjects. Digital infrared thermographic imaging was shown to be very useful method in the outcome evaluation of cervical chemonucleolysis.
Chymopapain ; Extremities ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Chemolysis* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuralgia ; Retrospective Studies* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed