OBJECTIVE: In muscle and neuronal cells, calcium channels have been classified by electrophysiological and pharmacological properties into (1) voltage-dependent Ca2+-channel(1) P/Q-type Ca2+-channel (2) N-type Ca2+-channel R(3) L-type Ca2+-channel (4) T-type Ca2+-channel (5)R-type Ca2+-channel. The present study was done in order to investigate whether there is any difference in Ca2+-channel distribution between activated and normally fertilized embryos. METHODS: The immunocytochemical method was used to identify the existence of voltage-dependent Ca2+-channels in parthenogenetically activated 2-cell embryos by ethanol and SrCl2 treatment. These 2-cell embryos were obtained by exposure to 6% ethanol for 6 min and to 10 mM SrCl2 for 2h. RESULTS: P/Q-type Ca2+ channels and L-type Ca2+-channels have been identified. Whereas, three type of Ca2+-channel P/Q-type, N-type, L-type have been identified in 2-cell embryos fertilized in vivo. CONCLUSION: Activation by ethanol was faster than those by SrCl2. However, there was difference in DAB staining of the embryos between ethanol and SrCl2 treatment (87.7% and 54.1%). Intensity of staining was also different between ethanol- and SrCl2-treated group. However, it has not been known why there was some difference in DAB staining and staining intensity in the present study.
Mice ; Animals

The angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitor (Captopril) has recently been studied extensively in various experimental models of radiation injury and has proven its protective effects in various organs, such as the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys. Twenty-three Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into experimental and control group. The experimental group was divided into two large groups: the first one received a single dose of 18 Gy irradiation from an electron beam on the local field of the kidney region only, and the second group received captopril per oral continuously after the same doses of irradiation. The second experimental group was divided into four subgroups by captopril doses: 62.5 mg/l, 125 mg/l, 250 mg/l, and 500 mg/l, respectively. On light and electron microscopy, the kidneys of the irradiated rats with no captopril treatment showed diffuse glomerular contraction, congestion with occlusion and focal necrosis of the endothelial, and mesangial cells. The tubules showed ballooning degeneration, desquamation, and diffuse coagulation necrosis. Captopril treated rats, especially those given a high dose (more than 250 gm/l), revealed a marked reduction of the tubular and glomerular injuries. There was a statistically significant difference in the degree of renal injury among the experimental groups (p<0.05). The result of this study suggests that an administration of high dose captopril might prevent radiation-induced renal injury, especially in the early post-irradiation period.
Animals ; Captopril* ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Kidney ; Lung ; Mesangial Cells ; Microscopy, Electron ; Models, Theoretical ; Necrosis ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Radiation Injuries ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Risk Factors*

The fabella, which means little bean is a sesamoid bone located in the lteral head of the gastrocnemius muscle. It has been estimated from radiographic studies, that fabella presents in 11.5%-12.9% of adult knees, and bilaterally in more than 50% of the adult population. The salient features of the fabellar syndrome includes intermittent pain in the posterolateral region, accentuated by knee extension and localized tendemess caused by compression against the femoral condyle. We experienced a case of fabella impingement syndrome which includes symptom of intermittent pain in the posterolateral region, intermittent locking and limitation of knee motion, gd report with review of literatures where it has not ever been introduced.
Adult ; Head ; Humans ; Knee ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Sesamoid Bones

Generally, exposure and the operative technique are common difficulty encountered in the total knee arthroplasty of ankylosed knee due to old infection sequelae. Also the postoperative range of motion and relief of pain is poor due to deformity and excessive soft tissue contracture around knee. There have heen few reports, however, that address the reconstructive challenge of total knee arthroplasty in a previously infected ankylosed knee. We perfoined TKA in thirty six patients who had ankylosed knee between July l986 and Dec. 199S. After follow up of average five years and one month, we analysed the results. The definition of ankylosis was a knee ROM less than 90 degree. Average age of patients were 36.7 years old. Twelve patients were meii and twenty four patients were women. Sixteen patients of partial ankylosis and twenty patients of complete ankylosis were performed operation. There were nineteen cases of healed tubercuiosis knees and seventeen cases of healed pyogenic knees. For the release of soft tissue contracture in 9 cases, we lengthened quadrceps tendon with the method of modified V-Y advancement technique. Patella tendon was proximally reattached with staples and suture in 6 cases and tibial tubercle was proximally transferred in 3 cases. As results, the postoperative average range of motion was 79.3 (30 - l21') in complete ankylosis, 107 (60 - 135 ) in partial ankylosis. The average Hospital for Speciai Surgery knee rating score improved from 56.3 points preoperatively to 84.8 points postoperatively. Radiolucent line was observed in two Knees with less than 2mm width in three years and four months, and four years postoperatively, hut the patient had no pain. In five patients who had poor gain of range of motion after operation, we perfonned arthroscopic adhesiolysis. In conclusion, regarding patient selection, reasonable hony development, relative]y healthy extensor mechanism and adequate soft tissue condition are important for success of TKA in old intection sequelae. TKA of ankylosed knee in old infection sequelae is a successful procedui which can ohtain the restoration of function of the ankylosed knee.
Ankylosis ; Arthroplasty* ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee* ; Patellar Ligament ; Patient Selection ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Sutures ; Tendons

No abstract available.

According to the autopsy study for the temporomandibular joint disc position, rotation and sideway displacements as well as anterior displacement of TMJ discs are important aspect of internal derangement. There were some trials to suspect anterior and sideway disc displacements through MR images. But the sagittal and the coronal views of MRI could only show the image of cutted slices, these images were not sufficient for showing the entire correlations amomg glenoid fossa, condylar head and articular disc. In this study we combined the images of the each slice of sagittal views like drawing a map, then we could see the interrelations among these three major components of TMJ smore precisely. Applying this method to both asymtomatic volunteers and TMD patients, we classified the interrelationships between condylar head and articular disc of TMJ as twelve types. The distributions are as follows: 1. In asymptomatic volunteers cases, normal relations were 65.0%, sideways or rotational displacements without anterior displacement were 20.0%, only anterior displacements were 15.0%, and anterior displacements combined with rotational displacements were 5.0%. 2. In unaffected sides of TMD patients, normal relations were 42.1%, rotational displacements were 11.8% and anterior displacements were 47.0%. 3. In affected sides of TMD patients, normal relations were 10.6%, sideways or rotational displacements were 13.6%, anterior displacements were 75.8%. 4. In asymptomatic volunteers or unaffected sides of TMD patients, pure anterior displacement was more prominent than combined with sideways or rotational displacement, but in affected sides of TMD patients pure anterior displacement was less prominent.
Autopsy ; Head ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Temporomandibular Joint Disc ; Temporomandibular Joint* ; Volunteers

No abstract available.
Hemosiderosis* ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Seizures*

We had previously reported the purification of bovine lung natural surfactant-phospholoipd (PNSL)and the assessment of it's surface physical properties in vitro. To observe the clinical effectiveness of PNS-L in vivo, the degree of improvement of thoracic pressure-volume, compliance and histological changes following PNS-L instilation in premature rabbits with respiratory distress syndrome(RDS)were investigated. Rabbits, delivered prematurely by cesarean section at 27 days, treated with PNS-L via tracheostomy, were enrolled the study group. Two control groups were premature RDS rabbits (no treatment with PNS-L)and mature rabbits. We compared the results of thoracic pressure-volume changes during deflation phase and lung compliance changes among PNS-L treated study group and two control groups, and compared the results of aefated lung area ratio (%) on histologic samples among PNS-L treated study group and two control groups by the methods of IBSA-2000. There were significant improvements of thoracic pressure-volume during duflation phase(p<0.001), lung compliance (p<0.01, p<0.005, p<0.001) and increased acrated area histologically (p<0.005)in PNS-L treated study group compared with premature control group. It was suspected that PNS-L had contained the effective survace physical properties as a function of pulmonary surfactant. And improvement of pulmonary ventilatory functions and histological characteristics, were observed in PNS-L treated RDS model in vivo study.
Cesarean Section ; Compliance ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Lung ; Lung Compliance ; Pregnancy ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; Rabbits ; Tracheostomy

No abstract available.
Bilirubin* ; Brain Stem* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Kernicterus*