No abstract available.
Classification* ; Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate*

PURPOSE: Lower caliceal stones treated with ESWL do fail to pass more frequently than middle or upper caliceal stones. We analyzed the results of ESWL of renal caliceal stones according to the location of calix. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the stone-free rate in 119 caliceal stone patients treated with 3rd generation lithotriptor, EDAP LT-02 according to the caliceal location of the stone. Location of the stones were upper calix in 30, middle calix in 30, and lower calix in 59 patients. RESULTS: Stone-free rate was 90.0%(27/30 patients) in middle caliceal stones, 74.6%(44/59 patients) in lower caliceal stones, and 66.7%(20/30 patients) in upper caliceal stones. CONCLUSIONS: Stone-free rate of lower caliceal stones is higher than upper caliceal stones.
Humans ; Lithotripsy* ; Shock*

No abstract available.
Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; Humans*

To elucidate the complex of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGF-BPs) in short stature patients, we carried out a prospective study on three patients who were diagnosed as complete GH deficiency at the department of pediatrics from July 1992 to June 1993. The results were summarized as follows: 1) Two circulating IGFs complexed to specific binding protein existed in normal serum. Binding activity was found to be in the 150,000 molecular weight area (the large complex) and 50~60,000 molecular weight area (the small complex). 2) Binding activity for the large complex was seen to be dependent on advancing age, level of large IGF-BP3 complex peacked at the age of 15~16 years. 3) The binding activity for large complex diminished in three GH deficient patients and increased after hGH injection to near or above normal level. 4) Increased growth rate after GH treatment in GH deficient patient was closely related with increasing level of the large IGF-BP3 complex. Therefore we suggest that the large IGF-BP3 complex is regulated by GH. Estimating its serum level is useful for screening of GH deficiency and the monitoring of response to GH therapy.
Carrier Proteins ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I* ; Mass Screening ; Molecular Weight ; Pediatrics ; Prospective Studies

Background: Reduced lipid content in the stratum corneum is a major cause of skin-barrier dysfunction in various pathological conditions. Promoting lipid production is a potential strategy to improve skin-barrier function. Recent evidence supports the beneficial effects of adiponectin on lipid metabolism and senescence in keratinocytes. Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether plant extracts can enhance skin-barrier function. Methods: We screened fruit and herb extracts that enhance the lipid synthesis of keratinocytes via AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation and SIRT1 signaling in the adiponectin pathway. The levels of major lipid synthesis enzymes and transcription factors as well as epidermal barrier lipids involved in adiponectin-associated epidermal barrier formation were evaluated in the herbal extracts- or adiponectin-treated human epidermal keratinocyte and equivalent models. The mRNA expression of major lipid synthesis enzymes increased following treatment with Lycii Fructus, Prunus tomentosa, and Melia toosendan extracts. Results: The expression of transcription factors SIRT1, liver X receptor α, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), and sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) were upregulated. Levels of free fatty acids, cholesterol, and ceramides were elevated. The expression of keratinocyte differentiation markers increased. In particular, among fruit extracts with a detectable effect, Melia toosendan induced the highest expression of lipid synthase. Conclusion These results indicate that Melia toosendan is a promising candidate for improving skin-barrier function.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the basal serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in the presence of normal serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) are useful as a prognostic indicator of ovarian response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). METHODS: From January 1997 to January 1999, 91 infertile women with tubal factor who had undergone in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were enrolled in the present study. COH was performed using long protocol of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist. All patients included in this study had blood samples drawn on cycle day 2 or 3 prior to COH for measurement of basal FSH and LH. Women who had other infertility factors or high basal FSH levels (> or = 8.5 mIU/ml) were excluded from this study. The results of COH and IVF-ET were compared between two groups according to the level of basal LH (low LH group [< 3mIU/ml] vs. control group [> or = 3mIU/ml]). RESULTS: Patient's characteristics were comparable in both groups except basal LH level. The number of ampules and duration of exogenous gonadotropins required were significantly higher in the low LH group than those in the control group (p<0.001; p<0.005, respectively). The number of follicles > or = 14mm diameter on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection was significantly less in the low LH group than that in the control group (p<0.001). The serum estradiol level on the day of hCG injection was also significantly lower in the low LH group, with 1115.5 +/- 380.9 pg/ml compared with 1340.6 +/- 403.0 pg/ml in the control group (p<0.005). There were significantly lower numbers in oocytes retrieved, oocytes fertilized and embryos frozen in the low LH group than those in the control group (< 0.001; < 0.001; <0.005, respectively). However, there was no difference in the fertilization rate between the two groups. The clinical pregnancy rate per cycle seemed to be lower in the low LH group, but the difference did not achieve significance (26.2% vs 39.7%). There were no differences in the miscarriage rate and multiple pregnancy rate between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the low basal LH levels ( < 3 mIU/ml) could be predictive of low ovarian response to COH and poor IVF results.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Structures ; Estradiol ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Infertility ; Lutein* ; Luteinizing Hormone* ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy, Multiple

The thirteen DRB1, 6 DQA1, and 5 DQB1 alleles were defined in 362 healthy Korean controls using reverse dot blot hybridization method. The twenty-four immobilized SSOs for DRB1, 8 for DQA1, and 6 for DQB1 were used for this study. The frequencies of genotypes were DRB104 (17.1'Yo), '09 (13.1%), and '13 (11.6%); DQA1'01 (46.7%), 03 (30.8%), and '05 (11.7%); DQB1*03 (39.5%), '06 '(29.8%), and 05 (16.0%). ...continue...
Alleles* ; Genotype ; Haplotypes* ; HLA-DRB1 Chains

Intracellular recordings in cerebellar slice preparation showed that applications of 4-AP altered the pattern of oscillatory firing activity in Purkinje cells (PCs), especially yielding pronounced changes in action potential shape. 4-AP increased the amplitude and duration of action potential significantly and decreased the spike frequency. After 4-AP application, the duration of bursting was prolonged and the duration of after-burst hyperpolarization was progressively shortened. In all PCs tested, the rhythmicity of oscillatory firing activity was abolished completely at the steady state. These results suggest that 4-AP-sensitive currents determine the shape and frequency of individual Ca(2+)-dependent action potentials as well as maintaining oscillatory firing activity in PCs.
4-Aminopyridine/pharmacology* ; Action Potentials/drug effects* ; Animal ; Calcium/physiology* ; Electrophysiology ; In Vitro ; Oscillometry ; Purkinje Cells/physiology* ; Purkinje Cells/drug effects* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

In this retrospective study, 49 patients who were treated by surgical resection of colorectal cancer, confuted to proper muscle and confirmed histologically from 1979 to 1996 were included. To examine the significance of growth pattern in terms of polypoid growth(PG)(n=26; m,sm 5, pm 21) and non-polypoid growth(NPG)(n=23; m,sm 3, pm 20), we analyzed several clinocopathologic variables by x2 test and unpaired t-test, 5-year survival rate by Kaplan-Meier method and Log-Rank statistics according to growth type comparatively: 1) In the PG tumor, muscle elevation(P<0.0117) and association with adenoma(P<0.0001) were more frequent than in the NPG. 2) The NPG type showed smaller size(P<0.0172) and higher rate of lymph node metastasis(P=0.025) and higher tendency of lymphatic invasion(P=0.07) and poor differentiation(P=0.0693) and deeper invasion(P=0.0972) and worse 5-year survival(P=0.0607). 3) Otherwise there was no difference in inflammation, fibrosis, and angioinvasion. 4) The mean thickness of Outer Longitudinal Muscle(OLM) was thicker in rectum than colon(rectum 1.62 mm, colon 0.74 mm, p<0.0059) and pm cancer was more in rectum than in colon(rectum 10.3%, colon 4.0% , p=0.0057). In the view of results, NPG in early colorectal cancer may suggest the possibility of de novo cancer. NPG type was smaller in the size but more aggressive in lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion, invasion depth, tumor differentiation, 5-year survival rate. So it needs more thorough follow up. The higher incidence of pm cancer in rectum than in colon, is probably due to thicker OLM of rectum than that of colon.
Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Rectum ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

No abstract available.
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Intussusception