PURPOSE: To evaluate the significance of high signal intensity of the septum pellucidum in hydrocephalus on proton density-weighted brain MR images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Authors reviewed the MR images of 418 cases of patients with normal(175 cases), hydrocephalic(35 cases), atrophic(58 cases), and other groups(150 cases) retrospectively. We analyzed the signal intensity of the septum pellucidum in the normal group and the incidences of high signal intensities of periventricular area of frontal horn of lateral ventricle(area 1), periventricular area except area 1(area 2), callososeptal area(area 3), and septum pellucidum(area 4) in the normal and abnormal groups. RESULTS: In the normal group, the septurn pellucidum was isointense to the head of caudate nucleus on proton density-weighted image. High signal intensity of the septurn pellucidurn was seen in 31 cases (22 cases of hydrocephalus, 5 cases of brain atrophy, and 4 cases of others), and showed high specificity(91.4%) for hydrocephalus in spite of low sensitivity(62.9%), as compared with periventricular hyperintensities of other areas. CONCLUSION: High signal intensity of the septum pellucidum on proton density-weighted image may be caused by transependymal CSF migration in the patients with hydrocephalus, and considered as an additional finding of hydrocephalus in the cases of ventriculomegaly.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Brain ; Caudate Nucleus ; Head ; Horns ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus* ; Incidence ; Protons ; Retrospective Studies ; Septum Pellucidum*

Psoriasis is characterized by disregulation of keratinocyte growth with profound epidermal hyperplasia. Keratinocyte hyperplasia in psoriasis may be expained in part by overproduction of growth factor, and by altered metabolism of the epidemal growth factor receptors (EGFR) in affected skin. The expression of epidermal growth f ictor receptor was investigated by Northern blot and slot-blot analysis of total RNA extrated from biopsies of normal skin and psoriatic lesions. In Northern blot analysis, EGFR-specific mRNA transcripts from psoriatic tissues demonstrated the specificity of hybridizarion with a EGFR mDNA probe. The size of EGFR mRNA transcript was 6.7kb in psoriasis lesions which showed no change of quality. In slot-blot analysis, the levels of EGFR mRNA in poriasis revealed a 1.2 fold to 4.1 fold elevation when compared to normal skin. EGFR were present in all epidermal layers by immunoperoxidase staining, whereas in normal skin they were primarily present in the stratum basalis. These results indicate that the increased expresion of the EGFR gene may be, in part, responsible for the hyperproliferation of the epider nis and that retained EGFR may reflect incomplet; abnormal differentiation in active porasis. This altered process of EGFR metabolism may be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
Biopsy ; Blotting, Northern ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Genes, erbB-1 ; Hyperplasia ; Keratinocytes ; Metabolism ; Psoriasis* ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Receptors, Growth Factor ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical outcomes of intrauterine insemination (IUI) according to the catheter used. MATERIALS AND METHOD: From March 1998 to September 1998, total 95 infertile patients were included in this study. Patients were randomly allocated to TomCat group (n = 39) and Mackler group (n = 56) according to the catheter for insemination. The controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) using luteal long protocol of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) was used in all patients. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test, Fisher's exact test, and x2 test as appropriate. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. RESULTS: The total dose and duration of exogeneous gonadotropin required were similar between the two groups. There were also no significant differences in serum estradiol (E2) level, endometrial thickness and texture on the day of hCG administration between the two groups. However, the percentage of uterine souding due to failure of initial approach was significantly higher in TomCat group compared to Mackler group (23.1% vs. 0%, p < 0.01). The percentage of bleeding after IUI in TomCat group seemed to be higher than that in Mackler group (15.4% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.06), although there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. There was also no significant difference in the clinical pregnancy rate per patient between the two groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that using Mackler catheter might be effective for IUI, especially for the patients with cervical factor infertility.
Catheters* ; Estradiol ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infertility ; Insemination* ; Pregnancy Rate

PURPOSE: This study was performed to describe the ultrastructure of stromal nerve fibers in central, mid-peripheral, and peripheral parts of the human cornea by flat serial corneal section. METHODS: Seven samples from fresh normal cornea, derived from eyes with retinoblastoma and eyes from eye bank, were processed for transmission electron microscopic examinations. Flat serial sections reaching from mid-epithelium to the anterior stroma were observed. RESULTS: The myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers are alternately arranged and run parallel to the stromal collagen fibers at the periphery of the cornea. The main difference between the limbal and the central cornea is the presence of myelinated nerve fibers in the anterior peripheral stroma. The diameter of the unmyelinated nerve fiber measures between 0.25 and 0.63 micrometer in size. The corneal nerve fibers contain vesicles, mitochondria, and glycogen particles. The peripheral nerve fibers contain both clear and dense vesicles. The nerve fiber is separated by an interval of 0.3 micrometer from the cytoplasmic wall of keratocyte at the center of the cornea. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the corneal nerve fibers can be classified as C-fibers due to their size. The presence of both clear and dense vesicles within the cytoplasm of the periphery of the cornea suggest that a small portion in the peripheral corneal nerve may be originated from the sympathetic nervous system. A close vicinity between the nerve fibers and keratocyte supports that nerve fibers might modulate the release of growth factors in the regulation of stromal and epithelial metabolism.
Collagen ; Cornea ; Cytoplasm ; Eye Banks ; Glycogen ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Metabolism ; Mitochondria ; Myelin Sheath ; Nerve Fibers ; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated ; Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated ; Peripheral Nerves ; Retinoblastoma ; Sympathetic Nervous System

No abstract available.
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural*

Congenital pseudarthrosis is frequently associated with various stigmata of neurofibromatosis, particularly Cafe-Au-Lait spots and,subcutaneous nodules and in these patients, it is noteworthy that the treatment is very difficult even with extensive operative approach. Also it is interesting to find many controversies on etiological relation between neurofibroma and pseudarthrosis, per se and even the existance of nerve element in and around the tissue of pseudarthrosis. A thirteen years old female patient with definite neurofibromatosis associated with congenital tibial pseudarthrosis treated by intramedullary nailing and massive bone graft is reported.
Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Christianity ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Humans ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses ; Pseudarthrosis ; Transplants

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationships among nursing skill mix, missed nursing care, and adverse events according to the nursing skill mix and the factors influencing. Methods: This study is a descriptive survey that used survey data were collected from 158 nurses working in comprehensive nursing care wards in small and medium-sized hospitals. The data were analyzed using the t-test, analysis of variance, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The average age of the study participants was 37.9 years, and they had over 10 years of experience. The average mean ratio of nursing skill mix 1 was 69.98. For nursing skill mix 2, the average mean ratio was 68.44%. The mean score for missed nursing care was 1.33, and the mean score for adverse events was 1.90 points. The factors affecting adverse events experience were missed nursing care, total work experience of >3 years, number of beds between ≥200 and <300. Conclusion Our findings suggest that patient safety and management education should consider the nurses’ age and total work experience. Furthermore, nursing workforce management, particularly focusing on nursing assistants in small- and medium-sized hospitals, is essential for fostering a safer healthcare environment.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationships among nursing skill mix, missed nursing care, and adverse events according to the nursing skill mix and the factors influencing. Methods: This study is a descriptive survey that used survey data were collected from 158 nurses working in comprehensive nursing care wards in small and medium-sized hospitals. The data were analyzed using the t-test, analysis of variance, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The average age of the study participants was 37.9 years, and they had over 10 years of experience. The average mean ratio of nursing skill mix 1 was 69.98. For nursing skill mix 2, the average mean ratio was 68.44%. The mean score for missed nursing care was 1.33, and the mean score for adverse events was 1.90 points. The factors affecting adverse events experience were missed nursing care, total work experience of >3 years, number of beds between ≥200 and <300. Conclusion Our findings suggest that patient safety and management education should consider the nurses’ age and total work experience. Furthermore, nursing workforce management, particularly focusing on nursing assistants in small- and medium-sized hospitals, is essential for fostering a safer healthcare environment.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationships among nursing skill mix, missed nursing care, and adverse events according to the nursing skill mix and the factors influencing. Methods: This study is a descriptive survey that used survey data were collected from 158 nurses working in comprehensive nursing care wards in small and medium-sized hospitals. The data were analyzed using the t-test, analysis of variance, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The average age of the study participants was 37.9 years, and they had over 10 years of experience. The average mean ratio of nursing skill mix 1 was 69.98. For nursing skill mix 2, the average mean ratio was 68.44%. The mean score for missed nursing care was 1.33, and the mean score for adverse events was 1.90 points. The factors affecting adverse events experience were missed nursing care, total work experience of >3 years, number of beds between ≥200 and <300. Conclusion Our findings suggest that patient safety and management education should consider the nurses’ age and total work experience. Furthermore, nursing workforce management, particularly focusing on nursing assistants in small- and medium-sized hospitals, is essential for fostering a safer healthcare environment.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationships among nursing skill mix, missed nursing care, and adverse events according to the nursing skill mix and the factors influencing. Methods: This study is a descriptive survey that used survey data were collected from 158 nurses working in comprehensive nursing care wards in small and medium-sized hospitals. The data were analyzed using the t-test, analysis of variance, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The average age of the study participants was 37.9 years, and they had over 10 years of experience. The average mean ratio of nursing skill mix 1 was 69.98. For nursing skill mix 2, the average mean ratio was 68.44%. The mean score for missed nursing care was 1.33, and the mean score for adverse events was 1.90 points. The factors affecting adverse events experience were missed nursing care, total work experience of >3 years, number of beds between ≥200 and <300. Conclusion Our findings suggest that patient safety and management education should consider the nurses’ age and total work experience. Furthermore, nursing workforce management, particularly focusing on nursing assistants in small- and medium-sized hospitals, is essential for fostering a safer healthcare environment.