Lupus nephropathy shows a variable clinical course including remission, relapse and progression to renal failure. To examine the clinical or morphological parameters which might be related to the progression of lupus nephropathy, we have analyzed renal biopsies of 19 patients (M : F=5 : 14), who underwent repeated renal biopsies by morphology and morphometry. The average age of the patients was 22.8+/-9.0 years. The mean interval between two biopsies was 34.5+/-13.3 months. The first renal biopsies of these patients were diagnosed with WHO class IV (74%), class II (11%), class I (5%), class III (5%), and class V (5%). According to the clinical data the patients were divided into 3 groups, static, relapsing and progressive. At the time of the first biopsies, the amount of proteinuria in both the static and relapsing groups was significantly higher than that in the progressive group (P<0.05). The volume density of the renal cortical interstitium of the first biopsies in the progressive group was significantly greater than that in the static and relapsing groups (0.14+/-0.07 micrometer3/micrometer3 vs. 0.05+/-0.02 micrometer3/micrometer3, P<0.05; 0.14+/-0.07 micrometer3/micrometer3 vs. 0.05+/-0.04 micrometer3/micrometer3, P<0.05). The activity index of the second biopsies in the relapsing group was significantly higher than that in the static group (2.7+/-0.6 vs 1.2+/-1.0, P<0.05). In the progressive group, the percentage of glomeruli with global sclerosis and the volume density of the renal cortical interstitium in the second biopsies was elevated over the first biopsies (P<0.05). Half of the patients in the static and relapsing groups underwent a morphologic transformation on the second biopsy. However, of the 7 patients in the progressive group, only one showed a transformation from WHO class IV to class III, suggesting that the transformation is not related to the progression of lupus nephropathy. These results suggest that interstitial expansion and heavy proteinuria at the time of the first renal biopsy may bode for poor prognosis in lupus nephropathy. Furthermore, they suggest that an increased histologic activity index could be related to the relapse of the disease.
Biopsy* ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Recurrence ; Renal Insufficiency ; Sclerosis

Volkmanns ischemic contracture, despite a relatively small incidence, is one of the most devastating complications following a limb injury. The orthopedic surgeon must be equipped to recognize and effectively treat this complication. Recently the authors have managed 3 cases with V.I.C. with the following results. 1) The etiology showed CO poisoning, arterial injury, wringer injury around the elbow in each case. 2) The method of surgical treatment depended upon deformities and functional loss of individual patient. 3) The end results seemed to be proportionate to the previous deformities and functional less. 4) Early postoperative passive exercises of the digits seemed to be helpful in restoring further range of motion.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Elbow ; Exercise ; Extremities ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ischemic Contracture ; Methods ; Orthopedics ; Poisoning ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Upper Extremity

Hypercholesteremia was induced by cholesterol feeding of rabbits for 10 weeks. Gross examination of aorta of these animals showed an evidence of atheromatous lesions. The endogenous catecholamines in heart, adrenal gland, spleen, brain, liver and kidney of these hypercholesteremic rabbits were markedly reduced as compared to those of normal animals, respectively. There may exist some correleration between the serum cholesterol and tissue catecholamines.
Animal ; Arteriosclerosis/etiology* ; Arteriosclerosis/metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes ; Catecholamines/metabolism* ; Cholesterol/blood* ; Female ; Rabbits

Since the introduction of the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear system in 1943, cervicovaginal cytology has been used as a standard screening test for cervical cancer. The dissemination of this test contributed to reductions of the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer worldwide. In Korea, regular health check-ups for industrial workers and their family members were introduced in 1988 and were performed as part of the National Cancer Screening Program in 1999. As a result, the incidence of cervical cancer in Korea has been steadily decreasing. However, about 800 cases of cervical cancer-related deaths are reported each year due to false-negative test results. Hence, new screening methods have been proposed. Liquid-based cytology (LBC) was introduced in 1996 to overcome the limitations of conventional Pap smears. Since then, other LBC methods have been developed and utilized, including the human papilloma virus test—a method with higher sensitivity that requires fewer screenings. In this study, we review current issues and future perspectives related to cervical cancer screening in Korea.
Cervix Uteri ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Human Papillomavirus DNA Tests ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Methods ; Mortality ; Papanicolaou Test ; Papillomaviridae ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Uterus

The gross tissue specimens are a valuable aid to the teaching of pathology and anatomy. However, traditional methods for storage and handling of them are discouragingly difficult and, recently, minimal surgical resections as well as preoperative interventions make it more difficult to have instructive gross specimens. Plastination is a process of tissue preservation by impregnation with silicone polymers or epoxy resins. The process in our study involves dehydration by cryosubstitution in aceton, defatting, forced impregnation of silicon polymer in a vacuum, curing and finishing. We submitted 40 surgically resected specimens to plastination. The resulting specimens are odorless, relatively dry, durable, life-like, non-hazardous, maintenance-free, and do not deteriorate with time. Plastinated specimens are a useful adjunct to the teaching of pathology, particularly suited for use in small groups, and appropriate method of tissue preservation. They are much preferred to wet preparation and conventional pots by both students and teachers owing to their accessibility, superior illustrative powers, and comparative ease of interpretation.
Dehydration ; Epoxy Resins ; Humans ; Pathology* ; Polymers ; Silicones ; Tissue Preservation ; Vacuum

Treatment of rabbits with thyroxine 1 mg/kg daily for three to six days produced a hyperthyroid state as evidenced by increase in the heart rate and PBI. The hyperthyroid animals exhibited a significant shortening of the atrial refractory period. Beta adrenergic receptor blocking agents, propranolol (l0(-6)M pronethalol (5 X 10(-5)M) or MJ-1999 (5 X 10(-4)M), completely blocked the shortening of the atrial refractory period produced by the treatment with thyroxin, and with norepinephrine. Consequently, the shortening of the atrial refractory period of rabbits treated with thyroxin appears to bs mediated through stimulation of the beta adrenergic receptor in the heart. From these results, it may be concluded that the stimulation of the beta adrenergic receptor plays an important role in the alteration of cardiac function found in hyperthyroidism, and that the beta adrenergic blocking agents may be useful in treatment of the cardiac complications of hyperthyroidism.
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/pharmacology ; Animals ; Female ; Heart Atria/*drug effects/physiopathology ; Hyperthyroidism/chemically induced/*physiopathology ; Male ; Rabbits ; Sympatholytics/*pharmacology ; Thyroxine

In an attempt to determine whether myocardial catecholamines vary from season to season, their concentration in rabbits was measured throughout the whole year by the spectrophotofluorometric method. The highest concentration of cardiac catecholamine was observed in summer. Measurement of the atrial response to norepinephrine revealed no significant alteration during the entire period of the experiment.
Animals ; Catecholamines/*analysis ; Heart/*drug effects ; Myocardium/*analysis ; Norepinephrine/*pharmacology ; Rabbits ; *Seasons

The influence of thyroxine upon n the cardiac uptake of catecholamines was investigated in rabbits. A single injection of thyroxine(1.0m/kg) into rabbits did not affect the concentration of myocardial catecholamines. However, this dose of thyroxine greatly increased the cardiac uptake of catecholamine following injection of 2.0mg of norepinephrine as compared to that of untreated normal animals and it remained elevated for several hours. Similarly thyroxine also enhanced the accumulation of myocardial catecholamines following administration of dopa(60-80mg/kg) and epinephrine(1.0-1.5mg/kg).
Animal ; Catecholamines/metabolism* ; Epinephrine/metabolism ; Heart/drug effects* ; Male ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Norepinephrine/metabolism ; Rabbits ; Thyroxine/pharmacology* ; Tritium

Localization of chorionic gonadotropin in the albino rat placenta was studied by an immunofluorescent staining method. Intense apple-green fluorescence was observed in the cytoplasm of the trophoblast giant cells of the junctional zone from the 12th to 19th day of pregnancy. The trophospongial cells and glycogen cells of the junctional zone, and decidual cells showed no distinct green fluorescence, but granular green fluorescence wasobserved in the cytoplasm of the trophoblast cell of the labyrinth from the 16th to 18th day of pregnancy. The epithelium of the amnion investing the fetal surface of the placenta and the umbilical cord, which is covered with a single layer of amnion cells, showed no fluorescence. Methyl-green pyronin positive substance (RNA) appeared in relatively large amounts in the cells of yolk sac, labyrinth, junctional zone, and decidua from the 8th day of pregnancy. Albino rat chorionic gonadotropin was localized mostly in the cytoplasm of the trophoblast giant cells in the junctional zone and a smaller amount in the trophoblast cells of the lobyrinth by means of the immunofluorescent technic.
Animals ; Chorionic Gonadotropin/*analysis ; Female ; *Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Placenta/*analysis ; Rabbits ; Rats

The present study was designed to examine the possible relationship between the function of the labyrinth and the role of the sympathetic nervous system In experimental motion sickness produced by rotatory movement(8O r.p.m.). The catecholamines in the brain, the heart and the adrenal gland of rats were rapidly reduced to one half of normal values following exposure to rotatory movement. The pretreatment with streptomycin and dramamine completely prevented the depletion by the rotatory movement of the catecholamines in the brain, the heart and the adrenal gland, but scopolamine did not prevent the decrease. Bretylium or chlorpromazine signifcantly inhibited reduction of the catechol-amines in both of the brain and the heart. However they did not influence the decrease in the adrenal gland. The reduction of the tissue catecholamines in rotatory movement is presumed to be caused largely by activation of the sympathetic nervous system mediated through labyrinthine stimulation.
Animals ; Catecholamines/*metabolism ; Labyrinth/*physiopathology ; Male ; Motion Sickness/*etiology ; Rats ; *Rotation ; Sympathetic Nervous System/*physiopathology ; OID - NASA: 70030571