No abstract available.
Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem*

Leonardo da Vinci is remembered as the greatest genius of the Renaissance. He left outstanding achievements as an artist, scientist and inventor, and contributes up to today's science. He ranks the best in a variety of fields, such as botany, mathematics, geology, astronomy, geometry and optics. It has well known that Leonardo is an artist, scientist, inventor and philosopher. And he was a great anatomist that dissected dead bodies and animals directly and left many anatomical drawings. He took an interest in anatomy from the point of view of the artist, which is why the human body structure and function to know the sakes were "ignorant of the anatomy should not be upset." Over time, he became interested in the structure and function of the body, even get the human body in a difficult environment; he dissected many the human bodies directly. His scientific inquiry and infatuation made him as an advanced pioneer for more than 100 years, and got enough level to surpass the artistry. Leonardo left about 1,800 anatomical figures of the muscular, skeletal, vascular, nervous and urogenital system, and they are also very scientific and high artistic achievements. The aim of this article is to take a look at Leonardo da Vinci's anatomical achievements and thoughts. In addition, the goal is to knowledge today's anatomists about Leonardo da Vinci's astonishing achievements as a great pioneer in anatomy.
Anatomists ; Animals ; Astronomy ; Botany ; Geology ; Human Body ; Humans ; Inventors ; Mathematics ; Urogenital System

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that Cortex mori ( Morus alba L, Sangbaikpi ; CM ), the root bark of mulberry tree, plays a role in inhibiting mast cell activation. Human seminal plasma ( HSP ) modulates immune systems and activates rat peritoneal mast cells ( RPMC ). However, the inhibitory agents of HSP - induced mast cell activation have not been disclosed yet. OBJECTIVE AND METHOD: This study was undertaken to determine the effects of CM on HSP-induced mast cell activation by morphologic and functional methods. Morphological changes of RPMC by HSP alone or CM plus HSP were observed with the inverted light microscope. And the amounts of histamine and calcium were measured by radioisotopic enzymatic histamine and radioisotopic calcium assays. RESULTS: By inverted microscopy, HSP-induced RPMC degranulation occurred in a dose-dependent fashion. After pretreatment of RPMC with CM, there was no HSP-induced degranulation. Degranulation index (DI) of RPMC treated with Hanks balanced salt solution (HBSS), CM or HSP was 7.0+/-4.3, 9.0+/-6.2, 56.5+/-16.9, respectively. After pretreatment of RPMC with CM, HSP-induced DI was 11.0 +/-7.1. These results indicate that CM inhibited HSP-induced degranulation of RPMC. HSP-induced RPMC histamine release (HR) was dose-dependent. HR of RPMC treated with HBSS, CM or HSP was 0.18+/-0.10, 0.30+/-0.19, 4.48+/-0.86 ug/ml, respectively. After pretreatment of RPMC with CM, HSP-induced HR was 0.52+/-0.21 ug/ml. These results indicate that CM inhibited HSP-induced HR from RPMC. Intracellular calcium level ( ICL) of RPMC was also increased according to the concentration of HSP. ICL of RPMC treated with HBSS, CM or HSP was 6.1+/-1.0, 9.0+/-2.1, 30.2+/-6.5 pmole, respectively. After pretreatment of RPMC with CM, HSP-induced ICL of RPMC was 11.6 +/- 3.3 pmole. These results indicate that CM inhibited HSP-induced calcium uptake of RPMC. CONCLUSION: From these results, it is suggested that CM contains some substances which inhi-
Animals ; Calcium ; Histamine ; Histamine Release ; Humans* ; Immune System ; Mast Cells* ; Microscopy ; Morus ; Rats* ; Semen* ; Trees

No abstract available.
Anthropology, Physical* ; Optic Nerve

Trimellitic anhydride (TMA) is widely used industrially to make epoxy and alkyd resins, plasticizers and surfactants. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether contact dermatitis is induced by repeated TMA challenge and the role of interleukin (IL)-10 in the TMA-induced contact dermatitis. The repetition of the challenge enlarged the extent of an early and a late phase of contact dermatitis in IL-10(+/+) and IL-10(-/-) mice. In the late phase of TMA-induced contact dermatitis, the peak of ear swelling responses by single challenge showed at 12 h after challenge, but the peak was observed at 8 h after repeated challenge. In the IL-10(-/-) mice, the repetition of the TMA challenges enlarged the extent of the contact dermatitis, but less than those in IL-10(+/+) mice. These results indicate that mice sensitized by TMA could possibly offer a useful model to study the mechanism of contact dermatitis, and IL-10 may act as potential modulators in the TMA-induced contact dermatitis. IL-10 may provide therapeutic tools for the treatment of TMA-induced contact dermatitis.
Animals ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Ear ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukins ; Mice ; Phthalic Anhydrides ; Plasticizers ; Plastics

We studied on change of lens accommodation and pupil light reflex caused by VDT work in six women and compared them with those of other office works. The results were as follows. 1. In VDT work group, the accommodation contraction velocity decreased during the first 2-hr VDT task, then recovered markedly by the end of the one-hour lunch break, and then decreased again by the end of the 2nd 2-hr VDT task. Changes of relaxation velocity showed similar pattern although it was less typical than that of contraction velocity. 2. There was no marked change in accommodation contraction velocity and amplitude of accommodation in general office work group and near-distance office work group, and in the near-distance office work accommodation relaxation velocity decreased according to work load without recovery after lunch break. 3. Initial pupil diameter, initial pupil area of light reflex decreased significantly during VDT task only in VDT work group, and didn't recover after lunch break. These results suggest possibility that changes of accommodation contraction velocity, accommodation relaxation velocity, near point distance, and pupil diameter and area are useful in evaluating characteristics of VDT work. For this, more research adjusted individual differences, circadian rhythm, emotional stress needs.
Accommodation, Ocular ; Circadian Rhythm ; Female ; Humans ; Individuality ; Lunch ; Pupil* ; Reflex* ; Relaxation ; Stress, Psychological

The bear bile has been used as a traditional drug medicine and has been known to have anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. The purpose of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effect of bear bile on compound 48/80-induced mast cell activation in vitro and anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE-mediated vascular permeability in vivo. For this, the effects of bear bile on the degranulation, histamine release, calcium influx and the change of the intracellular cAMP levels of rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMCs) and the influences of the oral treatment of bear bile on IgE-mediated cutaneous vascular permeability were studied. the results were as follows; the compound 48/80-induced degranulation, histamine release and calcium influx of RPMCs were inhibited by pretreatment with bear bile, the cAMP levels of RPMCs were increased by pretreatment with bear bile, and bear bile inhibited anti-DNP IgE-mediated cutaneous vascular permeability. From the above results, it is suggested that bear bile contains some substances which inhibit anti-DNP IgE-mediated vascular permeability and mast cell activation. Bear bile potentially may serve as an effective therapeutic agent for allergic diseases.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Bile ; Calcium ; Capillary Permeability ; Histamine Release ; Immunoglobulin E ; Mast Cells ; Rats ; Ursidae

Mast cells participate in allergies and inflammation by secreting a variety of pro-inflammatory mediators. Curcumin, the active component of turmeric, is a polyphenolic phytochemical with anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-allergic properties. The effects of curcumin on compound 48/80-induced mast cell activation and passive cutaneous anaphylactoid reactions are unknown. In this report, we investigated the influences of curcumin on the passive cutaneous anaphylactoid response in vivo and compound 48/80-induced mast cell activation in vitro. The mechanism of action was examined by calcium uptake measurements and cAMP assays in mast cells. Curcumin significantly attenuated the mast cell-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylactoid reaction in an animal model. In agreement with this in vivo activity, curcumin suppressed compound 48/80-induced rat peritoneal mast cell (RPMC) degranulation and histamine release from RPMCs. Moreover, compound 48/80-elicited calcium uptake into RPMCs was reduced in a dose-dependent manner by curcumin. Furthermore, curcumin increased the level of intracellular cAMP and significantly inhibited the compound 48/80-induced reduction of cAMP in RPMCs. These results corroborate the finding that curcumin may have anti-allergic activity.
Animals ; Calcium ; Curcuma ; Curcumin ; Histamine ; Histamine Release ; Hypersensitivity ; Inflammation ; Mast Cells ; Models, Animal ; Rats

Genetically engineered mice have provided much information about gene function in the field of developmental biology. Recently, conditional gene targeting using the Cre/loxP system has been developed to control the cell type and timing of the target gene expression. The increase in number of kidney-specific Cre mice allows for the analysis of phenotypes that cannot be addressed by conventional gene targeting. The mammalian kidney is a vital organ that plays a critical homeostatic role in the regulation of body fluid composition and excretion of waste products. The interactions between epithelial and mesenchymal cells are very critical events in the field of developmental biology, especially renal development. Kidney development is a complex process, requiring inductive interactions between epithelial and mesenchymal cells that eventually lead to the growth and differentiation of multiple highly specialized stromal, vascular, and epithelial cell types. Through the use of genetically engineered mouse models, the molecular bases for many of the events in the developing kidney have been identified. Defective morphogenesis may result in clinical phenotypes that range from complete renal agenesis to diseases such as hypertension that exist in the setting of grossly normal kidneys. In this review, we focus on the growth and transcription factors that define kidney progenitor cell populations, initiate ureteric bud branching, induce nephron formation within the metanephric mesenchyme, and differentiate stromal and vascular progenitors in the metanephric mesenchyme.
Animals ; Body Fluids ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Developmental Biology ; Epithelial Cells ; Gene Expression ; Gene Targeting ; Hypertension ; Kidney ; Kidney Diseases ; Mesoderm ; Mice ; Morphogenesis ; Nephrons ; Phenotype ; Stem Cells ; Transcription Factors ; Ureter ; Waste Products

Since the beginning of anatomy education in Korea, the supply of cadavers was dependent on the dead of non-identified vagabonds, mainly. Recently, the body donation program was introduced, and it has been operating and managing. However, the management agencies of this program are numerous, medical colleges and organizations of society. Thus it is very difficult to find the demographic characteristics and the statistical data of cadaver donors. The purpose of this study is to compare the demographic characteristics such as the number of death, sex, age, the place of residence, causes of death and others between death in Jeollabuk-do of annual report of death statistics (National Statistical Office) and 110 cadaver donors at Chonbuk National University Medical School in 2000~2004. Numbers of the donated cadaver increased 1.9% from 15 donors in 2000 to 29 donors in 2004. The dead were 69,447 persons in Jeollabuk-do for 5 years (in 2000~2004), and 110 cadaver donors, 0.16% of death in Jeollabuk-do, were donated to Chonbuk National University Medical School at this times. There was a ratio of 57.3% male to 42.7% female in cadaver donors. The age of donors was sixties 26.4%, seventies 25.4% and forties 14.5%. The regional proportion of donors was highest in Jeonju city among 14 regions. The death causes of donors were the neoplasms with 35.5%, the diseases of the circulatory system with 12.7%, it was similar to the statistical result of the dead in Jeollabuk-do. The death place of donors was the highest in hospital. The christian of cadaver donors was 60%. The registrant of Chonbuk Council of Body Donors and some other organizations was 48.2% among the cadaver donors. These results may contribute to the supply of cadavers for the anatomical education and research as well as the proliferation of cadaver donation movement. We hope that the studies of the demographic characteristics to body donation will be continued with medical colleges in Korea.
Cadaver ; Cause of Death ; Female ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Korea ; Male ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Schools, Medical ; Tissue Donors