The improved survival rate of premature infants requiring intensive care, shows an increased risk for nosocomial infections such as disseminated fungal infection. Renal candidasis usually occurs secondary to systemic disease, and can Iead to obstructive uropathy by fungus ball. A male neonate was born in week 28 of the gestational period. His birth weight was 1200gm. He required mechanical ventilation and surfactant for respiratory distress syndrome, umbilical artery and vein catheterization, percutaneous central veneous catheterization(PCVC) for parenteral nutrition, steroid, aminophylline and broad spectrum anibiotics. Hypertension developed on the 29th hospital day, but was not controlled by diuretics and antihypertensive drugs. on the 40th hospital day, he had abdominal distension, anuria, and azotemia. A Renal ultrasonogram showed that the ureteropelvic junction of the left kidney was completely obstructed with fungus balls. A percutaneous nephrostorny tube, made in a pigtail shape by hand, was inserted under fluoroscopy guidance, and the obstruction of the pelvis was resolved by wire manipulation. Parenteral amphotericin B and oral flucytocine were started, and the left renal pelvis was directly drained and irrigated by percutaneous nephrostomy tube. Candida albicans(C. albicuns) was cultured from urine and a percutaneous central venous catheter tip. His general condition improved, and follow up urine culture revealed no fungus. On follow-up renal ultrasonogram, renal cortex echogenicity and fungus ball had disappeared except for mild left renal calyectasis and pelvic thickening. This report describes a case of obstructive uropathy by fungus ball in systemic candidiasis of prematurity, and reviews the related literature.
Aminophylline ; Amphotericin B ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Anuria ; Azotemia ; Birth Weight ; Candida ; Candidiasis ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters ; Cross Infection ; Diuretics ; Fluoroscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fungi ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Critical Care ; Kidney ; Kidney Pelvis ; Male ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous* ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Pelvis ; Respiration, Artificial ; Survival Rate ; Ultrasonography ; Umbilical Arteries ; Veins

Two cases of post-traumatic arterial priapism diagnosed with duplex and color Doppler ultrasonography showed pseudoaneurysm and increased peak systolic and diastolic velocity of the inflowing cavernosal artery(low resistance index). An autologous blood clot successfully controlled tumescence and was comfortable and secure in preventing necrosis and impotence.
Aneurysm, False ; Embolization, Therapeutic* ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Male ; Necrosis ; Priapism* ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the hypotheses that administration routes [intra-arterial (IA) vs. intravenous (IV)] affect the early stage migration of transplanted human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) in acute brain infarction. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=40) were subjected to photothrombotic infarction. Three days after photothrombotic infarction, rats were randomly allocated to one of four experimental groups [IA group : n=12, IV group : n=12, superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) group : n=8, control group : n=8]. All groups were subdivided into 1, 6, 24, and 48 hours groups according to time point of sacrifice. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) consisting of T2 weighted image (T2WI), T2* weighted image (T2*WI), susceptibility weighted image (SWI), and diffusion weighted image of rat brain were obtained prior to and at 1, 6, 24, and 48 hours post-implantation. After final MRI, rats were sacrificed and grafted cells were analyzed in brain and lung specimen using Prussian blue and immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Grafted cells appeared as dark signal intensity regions at the peri-lesional zone. In IA group, dark signals in peri-lesional zone were more prominent compared with IV group. SWI showed largest dark signal followed by T2*WI and T2WI in both IA and IV groups. On Prussian blue staining, IA administration showed substantially increased migration and a large number of transplanted hBM-MSCs in the target brain than IV administration. The Prussian blue-positive cells were not detected in SPIO and control groups. CONCLUSION: In a rat photothrombotic model of ischemic stroke, selective IA administration of human mesenchymal stem cells is more effective than IV administration. MRI and histological analyses revealed the time course of cell migration, and the numbers and distribution of hBM-MSCs delivered into the brain.
Animals ; Brain ; Brain Infarction ; Cell Movement ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Diffusion ; Humans* ; Infarction ; Infusions, Intravenous* ; Iron ; Lung ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stroke ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To describe the HRCT and pathologic findings of squalene-induced lipoid pneumonia in rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three ml of squalene was instilled into the trachea between the second and the third tracheal ring in 16 rabbits. Serial HRCT scans were obtained on day 4 (n=8), at 1 week (n=7), 2 weeks (n=1), 4 weeks(n=1), 6 weeks (n=2) and 20 weeks (n=1) after squalene instillation. With sacrifice of the rabbits pathology was reviewed at 1 week (n=3), 4 weeks (n=3), and 6 weeks (n=4) after CT scans. RESULTS: Lipoid pneumonia was induced in 8 rabbits; lesions were distributed mainly in the dependent posterior lung. On serial HRCT scans, airspace consolidation, as seen on an air-bronchogrm, and nodular opacities were early findings; these gradually diminshed and with time were replaced by nodular & linear opacities. Histologically, pulmonary fibrosis appeared one week after squalene instillation and progressed over time. Alveolar septal thickening and cuboidal change of the alveolar lining epithelium were more prominent at week 6. CONCLUSION: The early change of squalene-induced lipoidpneumonia in rabbits is the proliferation of intraalveolar macrophage, which is responsible for air-space consolidation with air-bronchograms on HRCT. Nodular and linear opacities on HRCT are due to the appearance of pulmonary fibrosis one week after squalene instillation, and its subsequent progression.
Animals ; Epithelium ; Lung ; Macrophages ; Pathology ; Pneumonia* ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Rabbits* ; Squalene ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Trachea

PURPOSE: To evaluate differences in regional density of normal lung, as seen on CT, according to respiration and gravity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were 15 healthy volunteers, all non-smokers and without previous pulmonary disease. CT scans were obtained at three selected levels through the apex, middle and basal lung at the aortic arch, carina and just above the diaphragm, respectively at both full inspiration (FVC) and full expiration (RV). Within these regions of interest and at the three scanning levels, lung density was measured in the anterior, lateral, and posterior portions of the peripheral lung field. RESULTS: Attenuation of the anterior portion of the lung was lower than that of the posterior portion(p<0.005); average lung attenuation increase from the anterior to the posterior portion was significantly greater during full expiration than full inspiration (p<0.005), and was significantly greater at the base of the lung than at the apex (p<0.005 on expiration, p=0.006 on inspiration). Lung density during inspiration was lower than during expiration (p<0.005); average lung density increase from full inspiration to full expiration was significantly greater in the posterior portion than in the anterior (p<0.005). In the former, the average increase at the base of the lung was greater than at the apex (p=0.007), but in the latter, the average increase at the apex was greater than at thebase (p<0.005). CONCLUSION: In normal lung, respiration and gravity cause regional density changes, as seen on CT, and result in difference of lung attenuation between dependent and nondependent portions and between the apex, middle and base of the lung, according to inspiration and expiration.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Diaphragm ; Gravitation ; Healthy Volunteers ; Lung Diseases ; Lung* ; Respiration ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the fixation strength and tissue reaction of the glue fixation and self-stabilizing leg fixation methods and to compare the results with those of the conventional tagging suture fixation method. MATER AND METHODS: Twelve healthy rabbits were selected and three different methods of implanting the port chamber were employed on the back of each rabbit. A total of thirty six port chambers were implanted with these three different methods, viz. the glue fixation method using tissue adhesive, the self-stabilizing leg method using a self-expandable stabilizing leg, and the suture fixation method. The fixation strength and the gross and histopathologic changes of each fixation method were evaluated at three days, one week, two weeks and four weeks after port implantation. RESULTS: The glue fixation method showed a good fixation strength, which was similar to that of the tagging suture method (p=0.3486). Five of the six ports (83%) implanted with the glue fixation method which were examined after two weeks showed cracks on the external surface, but this had no adverse effects on their function. A large amount of granulation tissue reaction was found at the bottom of the chamber (p=0.0025). The fixation with the self-stabilizing leg showed relatively lower fixation strength (p=0.0043), but no turning-over of the chamber occurred. The fixation strength improved with time after the first week, and minimal granulation tissue reaction was observed with this method. CONCLUSION: The glue fixation method exhibited equal fixation strength compared to the suture fixation, but showed cracking and a large amount of granulation tissue, whereas the fixation with a self-stabilizing leg showed weaker fixation strength.
Alloys ; Animals ; Capillaries/cytology/metabolism/pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; Device Removal ; Enbucrilate/therapeutic use ; *External Fixators ; Fibroblasts/metabolism/pathology ; Granulation Tissue/blood supply/metabolism/pathology ; *Implants, Experimental ; Models, Animal ; Rabbits ; Sutures/*utilization ; Time Factors ; Tissue Adhesives/*therapeutic use

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate engraftment by visualizing the location of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) three-dimensionally in photothrombotic cerebral infarction (PTCI) models of rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of an agarose block containing superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-labeled hBM-MSCs was performed using a 3.0-T MRI, T2-(T2WI), T2*-(T2*WI), and susceptibility-weighted images (SWI). PTCI was induced in 6 rats, and 2.5 x 10(5) SPIO-labeled hBM-MSCs were infused through the ipsilateral internal carotid artery (ICA group) or tail vein (IV group). MRI was performed on days 1, 3, 7, and 14 after stem cell injection. Dark signal regions were confirmed using histology. Three-dimensional MRI reconstruction was performed using the clinical workflow solution to evaluate the engraftment of hBM-MSCs. Volumetric analysis of the engraftment was also performed. RESULTS: The volumes of SPIO-labeled hBM-MSCs in the phantom MRI were 129.3, 68.4, and 25.9 microL using SWI, T2*WI, and T2WI, respectively. SPIO-labeled hBM-MSCs appeared on day 1 after injection, encircling the cerebral infarction from the ventral side. Dark signal regions matched iron positive cells and human origin (positive) cells. The volume of the engraftment was larger in the ICA group on days 1, 3, and 7, after stem cell injection (p < 0.05 on SWI). SWI was the most sensitive MRI pulse sequence (p < 0.05). The volume of infarction decreased until day 14. CONCLUSION: The engraftment of SPIO-labeled hBM-MSCs can be visualized and evaluated three-dimensionally in PTCI models of rats. The engraftment volume was larger in the ICA group than IV group on early stage within one week.
Animals ; Cerebral Infarction/pathology/*radiography ; Contrast Media ; Dextrans ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; Male ; *Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/radiography ; Nanoparticles ; Neuroimaging/*methods ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes and normal ranges of the artery-bronchus ratio (ABR) during respiration MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed HRCT of 10 healthy adults. The HRCT findings of ten healthy adults were analysed. CT scanning was performed with 1 mm collimation at 3 mm intervals during full inspiration and full expiration, with a range during inspiration from 2 cm to 4 cm above the carina and from 4 cm above to 2 cm below the right hemidiaphragm. The range during expiration was from 1 cm to 3 cm above the carina and from 4 cm above to 2 cm below the right hemidiaphragm. ABiR (defined as the diameter of pulmonary artery divided by the inner diameter of the bronchus), ABoR (defined as the diameter of pulmonary artery divided by the outer diameter of the bronchus) and BLR (defined as the inner diameter of the bronchus divided by the outer diameter of the bronchus) were measured on the display console. RESULTS: The mean inner diameter of the bronchi was 2.04+/-0.73 mm during inspiration and 1.68+/-0.51 mm during expiration, while the mean diameter of the arteries was 3.95+/-1.03 mm during inspiration and 4.37+/-1.09 mm during expiration. The diameters of the bronchi were thus seen to increase during inspiration, and the diameters of the pulmonary arteries, to decrease. The mean thickness of the bronchial wall was 1.07+/-0.19 mm during inspiration and 1.06+/-0.24mm during expiration; thus, no change in thickness was seen during respiration (p<0.05). Mean ABiR was 2.01+/-0.60 (range 1.15-4.58) during inspiration and 2.59+/-0.74(range 1.16-4.9) during expiration, and in all cases the inner diameter of the bronchus was less than that of the accompanying pulmonary artery. Mean ABoR was 0.91+/-0.19 during inspiration and 1.09+/-0.22 during expiration. while for BLR, the corresponding fingures were 0.46+/-0.06, and 0.44+/-0.09. CONCLUSION: HRCT is a useful tool for evaluating changes in the pulmonary arteries and bronchi during respiration.
Adult ; Arteries ; Bronchi ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery ; Reference Values ; Respiration* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of spiral CT in the measurement of lung volumes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen healthy volunteers were studied by both spirometer and spiral CT at full inspiration and expiration inorder to correlate their results, including total lung capacity (TLC), vital capacity (VC) and residual volume(RV). 3-D images were reconstructed from spiral CT, and we measured lung volumes at a corresponding CT window range ; their volumes were compared with the pulmonary function test (paired t-test). RESULTS: The window range corresponding to TLC was from -1000HU to -150HU (p=0.279, r=0.986), and for VC from -910HU to -800HU (p=0.366,r=0.954) in full-inspiratory CT. The optimal window range for RV in full-expiratory CT was from -1000HU to -450HU (p=0.757, r=0.777), and TLC-VC in full-inspiratory CT was also calculated (p=0.843, r=0.847). CONCLUSION: Spiral CT at full inspiration can used to lung volumes such as TLC, VC and RV.
Healthy Volunteers ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Lung* ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Tomography, Spiral Computed* ; Total Lung Capacity ; Vital Capacity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the lung changes in healthy smokers, as seen on inspiratory and expiratoryhigh-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-seven healthy smokers (light smokers,below 20 pack-years, n=16; heavy smokers, above 20 pack-years, n=11) and 25 nonsmokers underwent inspiratory andexpiratory HRCT. All healthy smokers had normal pulmonary function and chest radiography. Parenchymal andsubpleural micronodules, ground-glass attenuation, centrilobular and paraseptal emphysema, bronchial wallthickening, bronchiectasis and septal line were evalvated on inspiratory scan and by air-trapping on expiratoryscan. RESULTS: On inspiratory scan, parenchymal micronodules were observed in one of 25 nonsmokers(4%), two of 16light smokers(13%) and five of 11 heavy smokers(45%); subpleural micronodules in two(8%), four(25%), two(18%);ground-glass attenuation in 0(0%), one(6%), three(27%); centrilobular emphysema in 0(0%), one(6%), three(27%);paraseptal emphysema in three(12%), 0(0%), five(45%); bronchial wall thickening in 0(0%), two(13%), one(9%),bronchiectasis in 0(0%), one(6%) two(18%) and septal line in one(4%), four(25%), two(18%). On expiratory scan,air-trapping was detected in 0 of 15 nonsmokers(0%), two of 17 light smokers(12%), and five of 11 heavysmokers(45%). Statistically significant differences between these three groups were found in parenchymalmicronodules(P=0.006), ground-glass attenuation(P=0.008), centrilobular emphysema(P=0.018), paraseptal emphysema(P=0.005) and air-trapping(P=0.013) between these three groups. CONCLUSION: According to the findings of HRCT,heavy smokers had higher frequency of parenchymal micronodules, ground-glass attenuation, centrilobular andparaseptal emphysema, and air-trapping than nonsmokers and light smokers.
Bronchiectasis ; Bronchiolitis ; Emphysema ; Lung* ; Pulmonary Emphysema ; Radiography ; Thorax