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

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

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

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

The authors ahve analyzed various chemical components of intracerebral hematoma in 20 cerebrovascular accident patients who were operated at the Department of Neurosurgery, Kosin Medical Center, from October, 1984 to April, 1986. The results showed that there are no differences between the levels of sodium and chloride in serum and hematoma, while potassium and phosphorus significantly higher in hematoma, and calcium lower in hematoma. The changes of various chemical components seem not to be correlated with the timing of operation. We are going to discuss the possible explanations of the changes.
Calcium ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Neurosurgery ; Phosphorus ; Potassium ; Sodium ; Stroke

One of the major social issues nowadays is the aging society. Korea is already an aging society, and 63 cities and districts are ultra-aged societies where the rate of people older than 65 yr exceeds 20%. Among them, more than 67% are women. These statistics reveal the importance of healthcare for older women. Disease and disability of older women are very closely related to the loss of female sex hormones after menopause. Major hormone-dependent aging problems in women such as osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease (AD), urinary incontinence, and coronary atherosclerosis were surveyed in this review, and the key role of hormones in those diseases and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were summarized. We expect that this review would provide some understanding of factors that must be considered to give optimal care to older women for healthy lives.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging/*physiology ; Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy/metabolism/*physiopathology ; Female ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones/*metabolism/physiology/therapeutic use ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis/drug therapy/metabolism/*physiopathology

The purpose of this study is to assess the usefulness of digital infrared thermographic image(DITI) in patients with surgically treated lumbar disc disease. A series of 480 patients with lumbar herniated disc was studied. The mean age of the patients was 37 years, with a range of 18 to 64 years. Of which 126 cases of chemonucleolysis. 18 cases of percutaneous endoscopic laser discectomy, and 336 cases of laminectomy with discectomy were performed. Among these patients, 336 cases of laminectomy were assessed by DITI preoperatively. The thermal differences(delta T) between the symptomatic and asymptomatic limbs were evaluated. We have categorized the types of herniations into 3 classes: 200 protruded, 99 extruded, and 37 sequestered. The thermal differences were classified into 3 groups: 177 patients had delta T < 0.5 degrees C, 74 patients had 0.5 degrees C < or = delta T < 0.8 degrees C and 85 patients had delta T > or = 0.8 degrees C. Among the group of patients with the sequestered disc, 30(i.e. 80%) had delta T > or = 0.8 degrees C. Among the surgically treated 336 patients, non-visualization of a part of the sciatic limb on preoperative DITI was the condition used to coin the term amputation sign by the authors. In the sequestered group, the "amputation sign" was observed in 28 cases(75%). We conclude that DITI can predict a sequestered disc disease, and it allows more precise indication regarding open surgery.
Amputation ; Diskectomy ; Extremities ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Chemolysis ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Laminectomy ; Numismatics

A retrospective analysis of brain metastasis with respect to the pathology, hydrocephalus, cause of death, survival time and therapeutic modality was carried out in 47 cases. The duration of survival after CNS metastasis far less depends on the primary tumor than the latent interval between the onset of first symptom from primary tumor and CNS metastasis dose. And death was attributable to the CNS metastases in at least 5.3% of these cases. Surgery and radiotherapy but chemotherapy were included in this study. Radiotherapy had significant effects on prolongation of survival. The surgery plus postoperative whole brain radiotherapy had the longest survivals than the other treatment modalities. The authors recommend guidelines for surgical resection, usually followed by radiotherapy:in cases which have good general condition enough to tolerate general anesthesia without any acute general morbidness, (1) single surgically accessible brain metastasis, (2) an incapacitating or large metastasis even when the tumor is not solitary, (3) uncertain primary cancer, (4) posterior fossa, especially cerebellar hemispheric metastasis. It seems that the presence of metastasis else where in the body should not exclude the case as a surgical candidate.
Anesthesia, General ; Brain* ; Cause of Death ; Drug Therapy ; Hydrocephalus ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Pathology ; Prognosis* ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies*

A retrospective analysis of brain metastasis with respect to the pathology, hydrocephalus, cause of death, survival time and therapeutic modality was carried out in 47 cases. The duration of survival after CNS metastasis far less depends on the primary tumor than the latent interval between the onset of first symptom from primary tumor and CNS metastasis dose. And death was attributable to the CNS metastases in at least 5.3% of these cases. Surgery and radiotherapy but chemotherapy were included in this study. Radiotherapy had significant effects on prolongation of survival. The surgery plus postoperative whole brain radiotherapy had the longest survivals than the other treatment modalities. The authors recommend guidelines for surgical resection, usually followed by radiotherapy:in cases which have good general condition enough to tolerate general anesthesia without any acute general morbidness, (1) single surgically accessible brain metastasis, (2) an incapacitating or large metastasis even when the tumor is not solitary, (3) uncertain primary cancer, (4) posterior fossa, especially cerebellar hemispheric metastasis. It seems that the presence of metastasis else where in the body should not exclude the case as a surgical candidate.
Anesthesia, General ; Brain* ; Cause of Death ; Drug Therapy ; Hydrocephalus ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Pathology ; Prognosis* ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies*