No abstract available.
Fetal Blood* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Plasma* ; Sodium*

Male urethral diverticulum is uncommon lesion, furthermore calculus formation within the male urethral diverticulum is very rare. Generally, urethral diverticula are classified as congenital and acquired. The majority of male urethral diverticula are acquired and approximately 10 to 20 per cent are congenital. Acquired urethral diverticula in the male may arise from many sources, including infection (prostatic abscess, infection of periurethral glands, hematoma or schistosomiasis), obstruction (stricture, impacted stone, Cunningham clamp or condom catheter) and trauma (instrumentation, external injury and pelvic fracture). Calculi formation is more common in the acquired diverticulum owing to stagnation of urine and infection. These calculi in the diverticulum usually are solitary and may attain considerable size with predisposing factors, 1) a ureteral or bladder calculus that is lodged in the urethra 2) urethral trauma or stricture, 3) calcification around a foreign body or hair. The treatment of urethral diverticulum combined with stone is excision of the diverticula with removal of stone. We treated two cases of urethral diverticulum combined with stone in the male, and report with review of literature.
Abscess ; Calculi ; Causality ; Condoms ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diverticulum* ; Foreign Bodies ; Hair ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Male* ; Ureter ; Urethra ; Urinary Bladder Calculi

Herniated intervertebral disc(HIVD) of the lumbar spine has been known to be relatively uncommon in the teenager and frequently be associated with trauma. However, with the changing life style and increasing sports activities, and most of all, with the advent of new imaging modalities, the incidence seems to be increasing gradually. In order to define the characteristic pattern of HIVD of teenager in the era of MRI, and to clarify the associated lesions, such as apophyseal ring fractures, authors performed this retrospective study in 55 teenager patients with HIVD(77 discs), in which MRI was used as main diagnostic modality. The following results were obtained 1) The incidence of the HIVD in teenager was 9.6%(55 patients) of total HIVD patients(575 patients) for 4 years from December 1989 to December 1993. 2) According to MRI findings, HIVD of the teenager could be classified into 3 distinct patterns; simple HIVD, lumbar apophyseal ring fracture(LARF), and vertebral rim lesion. 3) In simple HIVD, as for the MRI classification, protruded type was most frequent type and there was no sequestered type 4) In LARF, the incidence was 14.4% of teenager's HIVD and posterocephalad margin of L5 was the most common site of involvement. 5) Exophytic bony protrusion from the posterior margin of vertebral body, which we called vertebral rim lesion, could be defined on MR sagittal view in 6 cases.
Adolescent ; Classification ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intervertebral Disc ; Life Style ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; Sports

In the present study, we investigated the differences in the levels of expression of virulence factors between blood isolates of Candida albicans and commensal strain isolated from the oral cavities of health volunteers, and correlations between virulence factors. Blood isolates of 33 and commenal isolates of 71 were characterized by putative virulence factors such as proteinase production (PROT), an ability to adhere to epithelial cells (ADH), cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), phospholipase production (PLASE), and hyphal transition (GERM). In PROT, ADH, CSH, and PLASE, the means of expression of blood isolates were higher compared with those of commensal isolates, however statistical significance was only shown in CSH (p=0.036). On the contrary, mean expression of GERM of blood isolates was lower than that of commensal isolates. Of relationships between virulence factors, although a negative correlation of PROT with CSH was obtained, the correlation was relatively low (r=-0.316, p=0.001). These results suggest that higher expression of CSH is a more distinguishing character in virulent blood isolates of C. albicans and that the expression of virulence factors are independent.
Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Epithelial Cells ; Healthy Volunteers* ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Phospholipases ; Virulence Factors ; Virulence* ; Volunteers

PURPOSE: It has been suggested in our previous study that the serum level of xanthine oxidise(XO) activity, glutathione(GSH), malonyldialdehyde(MDA) could be used as marker of oxidant stress in association with renal ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) injury. The present study was undertaken to establish the early marker of renal 1/R injury and to investigate the effect of deferoxamine on renal 1/R injury. MATERIALS AND METHOD: In Sprague-Dawley rats(male, 200-250gm, n=60), bilateral renal arteries were clamped for 60mins after pretreatment with deferoxamine(group A) or saline(group B). After 30min of bilateral renal recirculation, left nephrectomy and blood sampling in inferior vena cava were performed for in-vitro spectrophotometric study. Control animals(group C) did not undergo I/R operation. In-vivo renal function studies were performed in both group A and B with measurement of creatinine clearance rate(Ccr) at 7th day of experiments a%or renal ischmia for 60min. RESULTS: The levels of XO activity and XO type conversion ratio in renal tissue (RT) and serum(5) were measured. These levels were significantly high in group B, but were lower in group A compared to those of control group. The values of GSH(micrometer/g tissue), a scavenger of OFR, were decreased in group A (RT:0.183+/-0.019,5:0.201+/-0.029) and greatly decreased in group B(RT:0.159+/-0.009,5:0.164+/-0.022) compared to control group(RT:0.201+/-0.006,5:0.224+/-0.031). The values of MDA(nM/g tissue), a stable end product of lipid peroxidation, were increased in group A(RT:0.149+/-0.003, 5:0.058+/-0.004) compared to control group(RT:0.128+/-0.013, 5;0.055+/-0.005), but the values were significantly lower in group A compared to group B(RT:0.171+/-0.005, 5:0.070+/-0.003). Subsequent investigation was focused on the established renal function study after 1/R, which was determined using Ccr(ml/min). The Ccr in group A(2.06+/-0.03) was significantly higher compared to that of group 8(1.48+/-0.18), although it was slightly lower than in control group(2.18+/-0.05). CONCLUSIONS: From these results, it is suggested that renal I/R injury is highly correlated with the production of OFR. The levels of GSH and MDA in renal tissue and serum seem to be probable markers of oxidant stress in association with renal I/R injury. Furthermore, deferoxamine could reduce the degree of renal damage resulting from ameliorating the production of OFR following renal I/R injury.
Animals ; Creatinine ; Deferoxamine* ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Nephrectomy ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renal Artery ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; Xanthine

Giant lymph node hyperplasia (Castleman's disease) is a rare disease, which represents a peculiar form of lymph node hyperplasia. Generally, it has been considered as benign and localized disease but recently, revealed malignant transformation in some cases of multicentric form. It usually occurs on the mediastinum and occasionally neck, lung, axilla, mesentery, broad ligament, retroperitoneum or soft tissue of extremities. Histopathologically, it is divided into hyaline vascular or plasma cell type and the former is characterized with prominent vascular proliferation and hyalinization in the central portion and tight concentric layering of lymphocytes at the periphery of the follicles (mantle zone) and the latter is characterized by a diffuse plasma cell proliferation in the interfollicular area. From the point of view of clinical presentation, it has been divided into solitary form, which presents as a localized mass located most commonly in the mediastinum, and multicentric form, which occurs multiple location and has systemic manifestation and transformation into malignancy. Herein we report a case of Giant lymph node hyperplasia occurring in the left spermatic cord in a 58-year old male with brief review of literatures.
Axilla ; Broad Ligament ; Extremities ; Female ; Giant Lymph Node Hyperplasia* ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Hyperplasia ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Mesentery ; Neck ; Plasma Cells ; Rare Diseases ; Scrotum ; Spermatic Cord*

Management of the small lower ureteral stone has been attempted by either transurethral manipulation or expectant therapy. To date, however, the choice of proper method has depended mostly on clinician's preference, and the effectiveness of the transurethral stone manipulation has remained controversial. Herein we evaluated the effectiveness of the transurethral stone manipulation, using with the Dormia dislodger, in 37 patients with lower ureteral stone less than 10mm in greatest diameter. The results are summarized as follows. 1. The overall success rate was 68% (25 of 37 patients); Immediate delivery of the stone was observed in 16 of 37 patients. In another 5 patients the stone was removed at the time when the indwelled ureteral catheter was taken out. In the remaining 4 patients the stone passed spontaneously within a week following the procedure. 2. Higher success rate was observed in smaller stone; 79% in less than 4 mm, 58% in 46 mm, and 33% in 610 mm in it's greatest diameter, respectively. 3. The morbidity rate was 8.1% (3 of 37 patients); In one patient a broken basket was retained in the ureter, which was removed at the time of ureterolithotomy. In another patient a ureteral stricture requiring periodic dilation was complicated. And in the other patient persistent hematuria was observed, which was relieved by conservative management. These results suggest that transurethral manipulation might have to be initially applied to unremittingly painful patients with small lower ureteral stone.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Methods ; Ureter* ; Urinary Catheters

This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical usefulness of magnetic evoked potentials(MEP) in localization of motor pathway lesions and the relation between motor weakness and MEP alterations. The patient group consisted of 50 patients(33 men and 17 women) with vanous diseases involving motor pathway, among which were 21 cerebral infarction, 15 intracerebrai hemorrhage, 3 cervical spondylosis, 3 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and 8 peripheral polyneuropathy, confirmed by neurological findings, CT or MRI, EMG and nerve conduction velocity. The results were compared with 20 healthy subjects (11 men and 9 women) as a control group. MEP were recorded by using Digitimer magnetic stimulator model Dl90 and Medelec ER 94a/Sensor apparatuses, and MEP were evoked by magnetic stimulations over the vertex, the 7th cervical vertebra and Erb's point, and central motor conduction time (CMCT) was calculated by substracting the onset latency of abductor pollicis brevis muscle responses obtained by stimulation over the C7 vertebra from that obtained by stimulation over the scalp. The mean latencies of MEP after transcranial magnetic stimulations were prolonged in patients with motor pathway lesion, and mean CMCT were prolonged in patients with stroke. Cortical MEP were not elicited in stroke patients with profound motor weakn-ess below motor power 2/5 in arm, Prolongation of mean latency of cortical MEP and mean CMCT were correlated with motor weakness below motor power 4/5. In stroke patients, there were prolongation of mean CMCT and mean latency of cortical MEP evoked by stimulation to the undamaged hemisphere. These results suggest that magnetic MEP test is safe and useful in evaluation of motor pathway lesions.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; Arm ; Cerebral Infarction ; Evoked Potentials, Motor* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neural Conduction ; Polyneuropathies ; Scalp ; Spine ; Spondylosis ; Stroke ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

No abstract available.
Streptomyces*

The expression of the c-fos and krox-24 (immediate early genes: IEGs) and the BDNF (late response gene) were investigated by convulsants such as kainate (KA, 200 micrometer), N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA, 10 mM), glutamate (GLU, 2 mM), and picrotoxin (PTX, 20 micrometer in the rat C6 glioma cells. In addition, the changes of their expression patterns were investigated by the anticonvulsants such as a NMDA antagonist MK-801, phenytoin, phenobarbiw, diazepam, and newer antiepileptic drugs like felbamate and gabapentin. NMDA induced c-fos and krox-24 expromiom were decreased spatially by the anticonvulsants. KA, NMDA, GLU, and PTX-induced BDNF expression were increased by the anticonvulsants. These results imply the molecular basis of the anticonvulsant action mechanism lies in differential and coordinated transcriptional regulation of IEGs.
Animals ; Anticonvulsants* ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Convulsants ; Diazepam ; Dizocilpine Maleate ; Genes, Immediate-Early* ; Glioma ; Glutamic Acid ; Kainic Acid ; N-Methylaspartate ; Phenytoin ; Picrotoxin ; Rats