One hundred ninety seven metatarsals of Korean adults were studied macroscopically for the number, position and direction of the diaphysial nutrient foramen. Most metatarsals had on diaphysial nutrient foramen which was situated in the middle third of the shaft with average foraminal index ranging from 43 to 51, but 73% of first metatarsals had two or more foramina. No foramen was observed in 3% of total metatarsals studied. Nutrient foramen was present most frequently on the lateral surface in the first and second metatarsals and on the medial surface in the fifth, but it was present about the same the rate on both medial and lateral surfaces in the third and forth. The direction of the foramen was toward the head in the first metatarsals and toward the basis in the rest being always away from the growing end, thus favoring the growing end theory.
Adult ; Head ; Humans* ; Metatarsal Bones*

Median raphe cyst is known as congenital lesion of the perineum and genitalia, but its etiology is unclear. Most investigators believe that the median raphe cyst represent defects in the embryologic developenient bf the male genitalia. Simple surgical excision is effective in most cases. We report our experience with two cases of median raphe cyst without specific symptoms. Even though median raphe cyst is asymptomatic, surgical therapy is worth applicable because it relieve a patient from cosmetic and psychotic problem.
Genitalia ; Genitalia, Male ; Humans ; Male ; Perineum ; Research Personnel

No abstract available.
Arthroscopy* ; Retrospective Studies* ; Temporomandibular Joint*

The mammalian amygdala comprises a heterogeneous complex of cytoarchitectonically, histochemically and connectionally distinct nuclei. To investigate the developmental changes and regional distributions of adrenoceptor binding sites in the adult and postnatal rat amygdala (postnatal days 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30), in vitro autoradiography was performed. Binding sites for the alpha1-adrenoceptor ligand [3H]-prazosin, the alpha2-adrenoceptor ligand [3H]-rauwolscine, and the beta-adrenoceptor ligand [125I]-iodocyanopindolol were visualized by the in vitro autoradiography, and anatomically localized by comparing the autoradiograms to Nissl- and acetylcholinesterase-stained sections. On toluidine blue- and acetylcholinesterase-stained sections of the amygdaloid complex of the rat, three major divisions can be distinguished: the cortical-like nuclear group, medial nuclear group, and central nuclear group. The basolateral nuclear group of the cortical-like nuclear group was divided into three subregions, the basal, the basolateral and the basomedial amygdaloid nucleus. Between the medial and the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus, the intercalated nuclei were observed. The highest number of alpha1-adrenoceptor binding sites was detected in the central and the lateral amygdaloid nucleus. The nuclei most strongly labeled by [3H]-rauwolscine were those in the medial part of the amygdaloid complex. The pattern of the beta-adrenoceptor binding was relatively diffuse, the medial amygdaloid nucleus was most strongly labeled among the amygdaloid nuclei. At the postnatal day 0, adrenergic receptor binding sites were only weakly labeled. The expression of a1-adrenoceptor binding was rapidly increased in the central amygdaloid nucleus at the postnatal day 5, and between the postnatal day 10 and 15, the concentration of bindig sites reached the adult levels. The expression of alpha2- and beta-adrenoceptor binding was increased in most amygdaloid nuclei at the postnatal day 10, and higher density was observed at the postnatal day 30. In the adult, the expression of adrenoceptor binding was relatively low in most nuclei when compared to postnatal day 30. These findings may provide evidence that alpha1-adrenoceptor is involved in regulating amygdaloid development and function more specifically than alpha2- and beta-adrenoceptor during postnatal development. These results indicate that the regional distributions of alpha1-, alpha2-, and beta-adrenoceptor show some differences from those of the other mammalian species reported.
Adult ; Amygdala* ; Animals ; Autoradiography ; Binding Sites ; Humans ; Rats* ; Receptors, Adrenergic*

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Ligaments*

The fine structure of cells in the trigeminal mesencephalic (Me5) nucleus in the rat was studied by transmission electron microscopy. This nucleus located in the mid-brain and the rostral portion of the pons, most neurons in the caudal part of Me5 nucleus were sufficiently large (40~50micrometer) and appeared as round-shaped unipolar cells. The Me5 neurons had a large, round, centrally located nucleus, and their cytoplasm contained numerous mitochondria, dense granular endoplasmic reticulum, abundant Golgi apparatus, groups of free ribosomes, some heterogeneous particles and neurofilaments. Cell surfaces were studded irregularly with small spinouts processes, and they contained a few fine irregularly arranged neurofilaments and some granular endoplasmic reticulum. Boutons contacting the soma of Me5 neurons were defined as axosomatic synapses and bostons contacting dendrites located between the Me5 neurons were defined as axodendritic synapses. Based on differences in bouton and vesicle morphology, the four synaptic bouton types were identified. 1. Asymmetrical as well as symmetrical synapses with small round vesicles. 2. Asymmetrical synapses with pleomorphic admixture contained predominantlyspherical vesicles. 3. Symmetrical synapses with pleomorphic vesicles of flattened, spherical and dense-core vesicles. 4. Asymmetrical as well as symmetrical synapses with heterogeneous and large dense-core vesicles. Synaptic boutons containing round vesicles and large dense-core vesicles were most frequently observed.
Animals ; Carisoprodol ; Cytoplasm ; Dendrites ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Golgi Apparatus ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mitochondria ; Neurons ; Pons ; Presynaptic Terminals ; Rats* ; Ribosomes ; Synapses

PURPOSE: Nitric oxide(NO)-cyclic GMP pathway has a dominant role In penile erection over other neurotransmission pathway, which suggests that NO donor is a more physiologic and effective agent than others in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. However, the clinical efficacy of NO donor remains debatable. We investigated the effect of combination of NO donor with prostaglandin El(PGE1) on penile erection in the rat to predict its clinical utilization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intracavernous injection of PGE1 alone(10(-7)-10(-4)M) or NO donor alone(SIN-1, SNAP, SNP, 10(-7)-10(-3)M) induced penile erection in a dose dependent manner. RESULTS: Of those, SNP at high doses produced full erection, comparable to that induced by cavernous nerve stimulation. It also caused significant drop of systemic blood pressure. In combined injection of PGE1(5xl0-6M) with NO donor, every combination with SIN-1 , SNAP, or SNP enhanced penile erection all doses(10(-7)-10(-3)M). Of those, combined injection with low dose SNP was found to be most erective to produce penile erection without significant hypotension. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that intracavernous injection of combined NO donor, especially low dose SNP, with PGE1 will be effective in the treatment of erectile impotence, although it require clinical investigation.
Alprostadil ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Male ; Nitric Oxide* ; Penile Erection* ; Rats* ; Synaptic Transmission ; Tissue Donors*

Primary pulmonary amyloidosis is a rare disease, and is classified as either tracheobronchial or parenchymal ; the latter is also divided into nodular and diffuse alveolar septal forms. The alveolar form is extremely rare and usually produces reticular and nodular opacities. We describe a case of alveolar septal pulmonary amyloidosis manifested as multiple small nodules on chest radiograph and disseminated micronodules mainly in centrilobular and subpleural location without reticular opacities, on HRCT.
Amyloidosis* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Rare Diseases

Hypokalemia causes metabolic alkalosis and morphological changes of the kidney. K⁺ balance is regulated not only by ion channels or pump gene, but also by various genes including NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Previous study suggested the possibility that Akt and ERK kinase may be involved in Nrf2 transcriptional gene activation. In present study, we investigate the alterations of Akt, p-Akt, ERK, p-ERK protein in both normal kidney and K⁺-deficient diet kidney using Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemisrty. Our western blot data showed that the expression of Akt and p-Akt was increased gradually in K⁺-depleted diet (from 1W-3W) compared to normal group. The expression of ERK and p-ERK was markedly increased in K⁺-depleted diet 2W in comparison with normal group. Based on our immunostaining results, Akt protein immunoreactivity was prominently increased in outer medullary collecting duct, especially in K⁺-depleted diet 2 weeks. The localization of p-Akt proteins in K⁺-depleted groups was not different from normal group, but the immunoreactivity was significantly increased in distal convoluted tubule, macula densa and outer medullary thick ascending limb in K⁺-depleted diet 1 and 2 weeks groups. ERK protein immunoreactivity was prominently increased in outer medullary collecting duct, especially in K⁺-depleted diet 2 and 3 weeks. The localization of p-ERK proteins in K⁺-depleted groups was not different from normal group, but the immunoreactivity was prominently increased in the nucleus of outer medullary collecting duct especially in K⁺-depleted diet 2 weeks. Taken together, we suggest that the expression of p-Akt was gradually increased in K⁺-depleted groups of kidney, but the expression of p-ERK was markedly increased in K⁺-depleted diet 2 week group. Hence, the promotion of AKT and ERK phosphorylation in hypokalemic condition may be involved in the regulation of ion channels, ion transporters and subsequent intracellular signal transduction.
Alkalosis ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Diet ; Extremities ; Hypokalemia ; Ion Channels ; Ion Transport ; Kidney* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Rats* ; Signal Transduction ; Transcriptional Activation

PURPOSE: This study was to assess clinically the success rates and technical complications of cement-retained implant-supported single crowns and splinted crowns with zirconia frameworks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 75 (single crowns: 51, splinted crowns: 24) cement-retained implant-supported single crowns and splinted crowns with zirconia frameworks which were restored in 67 patients were investigated for the evaluation of the success rates and technical complications. All restorations were cemented with temporary cement. Age, gender, restoration position, opposing teeth, restoration type were assessed as possible factors affecting technical complications. RESULTS: During the mean observation period of 22.2 months, cumulative success rates of all restorations were 66.9 (73.2 - 60.6)%. Retention loss was found in 16 restorations (single crowns: 14, splinted crowns: 2), abutment screw loosening and veneer porcelain fracture were found in each 2 single crowns, respectively. According to a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of single crowns and splinted crowns, the cumulative success rates were 58.9 (66.6 - 51.2)%, 87.5 (96.1 - 78.9)%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference. The other possible factors did not have a significant effect on the technical complications. CONCLUSION: Retention loss was the most frequent technical complication. Abutment screw loosening and veneer porcelain fracture were found rarely in single crowns only. Age, gender, restoration position, and antagonist did not have significant effect on the technical complications. Splinted crowns had a higher success rate than single crowns.
Crowns* ; Dental Porcelain ; Humans ; Splints* ; Tooth