No abstract available.
Humans

No abstract available.
Meningioma* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

BACKGROUND: CD34 positive cell enumeration by flow cytometry is currently used to determine the optimal timing of peripheral blood stem cell collections (PBSC) and to predict engraftment of stem cell transplantation. However, the technical problems and lack of a standardized method are sources of significant variability in the quantitation of the CD34 positive cells. ProCOUNT(TM) (Beckon Dickinson Immuno- cytometry System, USA) kit for three color flow cytometric analysis was introduced to enumerate CD34 positive cells using a standardized method. This study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of the three color method, ProCOUNT(TM), in comparison with two color method. METHODS: CD34 positive cells from 25 cord blood samples were enumerated by two methods, two color (CD34-PE/CD45-FITC) and three color (ProCOUNT(TM) , nucleic acid dye/CD34-PE/ CD45-PerCP) flow cytometric analysis, in which CD34 positive cells were counted directly in comparison with counting beads introduced in the sample. RESULTS: The count of CD34 positive cells in the cord blood was 28.3(+/-20.0)/uL and 20.9 (+/-16.0) /uL by three color and two color methods, respectively, The number of CD34 positive cells enumerated by ProCOUNTTM kit was well correlated with that by two color method, but the count was significantly higher in the former method (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In the three color method, loss of stem cells was significantly lower than that in the two color method, and it was possible to obtain a direct count of CD34 positive cells by using a standardized procedure.
Fetal Blood* ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells

BACKGROUND: CD34 positive cell enumeration by flow cytometry is currently used to determine the optimal timing of peripheral blood stem cell collections (PBSC) and to predict engraftment of stem cell transplantation. However, the technical problems and lack of a standardized method are sources of significant variability in the quantitation of the CD34 positive cells. ProCOUNT(TM) (Beckon Dickinson Immuno- cytometry System, USA) kit for three color flow cytometric analysis was introduced to enumerate CD34 positive cells using a standardized method. This study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of the three color method, ProCOUNT(TM), in comparison with two color method. METHODS: CD34 positive cells from 25 cord blood samples were enumerated by two methods, two color (CD34-PE/CD45-FITC) and three color (ProCOUNT(TM) , nucleic acid dye/CD34-PE/ CD45-PerCP) flow cytometric analysis, in which CD34 positive cells were counted directly in comparison with counting beads introduced in the sample. RESULTS: The count of CD34 positive cells in the cord blood was 28.3(+/-20.0)/uL and 20.9 (+/-16.0) /uL by three color and two color methods, respectively, The number of CD34 positive cells enumerated by ProCOUNTTM kit was well correlated with that by two color method, but the count was significantly higher in the former method (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In the three color method, loss of stem cells was significantly lower than that in the two color method, and it was possible to obtain a direct count of CD34 positive cells by using a standardized procedure.
Fetal Blood* ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells

No abstract available.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Neurologic Manifestations* ; Spinal Canal*

No abstract available.
Teratoma*

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the changes in pulmonary function, gait ability, and quality of life when NMES is applied along with CBE and to provide basic clinical data to be used in pulmonary rehabilitation guidelines for patients with COPD to treat patients with severe COPD. METHODS: For this study, CBE and NMES of quadriceps femoris on both sides were applied to the experimental group (n=10), and only CBE was applied to the control group (n=10). For a pre-test, a 6-minute walk test was performed, and pulmonary function and health-related quality of life were measured. Moreover, an exercise program was applied to each group for 30 minutes per session, 5 times a week, for 6 weeks. After that, a post-test was conducted the same way as the pre-test. RESULTS: In the within-group comparison, there were significant differences in forced expiratory volume in one second, 6-minute walk test and health-related quality of life between the experimental group and the control group (p < 0.01)(p < 0.05). In the between-group comparison, the experimental group showed an increase in forced expiratory volume in one second and 6-minute walk test (p < 0.05) and showed a decline in health-related quality of life (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The 6-weeks NMES program improved health-related quality in patients with severe COPD by increasing expiratory volume by reinforcing the function of quadriceps femoris. This finding implies that NMES could be an alternative mode for improving physical functions of patients with severe COPD, who cannot participate in a breathing exercise program or are reluctant to participate.
Electric Stimulation* ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Gait* ; Humans ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Quadriceps Muscle ; Quality of Life* ; Rehabilitation ; Respiration

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of a single field, non-mydriatic, 45degrees digital photography as a diagnostic tool for diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: A total of 303 consecutive diabetic patients (606 eyes) who underwent digital fundus photography and indirect ophthalmoscopy were included in the present study. The optical discs and macular area of all patients were subjected to single fundus photography using a non-mydriatic 45-degree digital fundus camera. All patients also underwent fundus examinations after pupil dilation via indirect ophthalmoscopy. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity for determining diabetic retinopathy were 47.6% and 97.6%, respectively. The false positive rate, false negative rate, positive predictive value, and negative predictive values were 2.3%, 2.1%, 45.5%, and 97.8%, respectively. Among the digital fundus images, 12.9% (78 eyes) were non-gradable. The patients with non-gradable digital fundus images were older (p < 0.001), had a longer duration of diabetes, (p < 0.001) and more often suffered from systemic hypertension (p = 0.003) compared to patients with gradable photographs. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that single-field, non-mydriatic, 45 degree digital photography for detecting diabetic retinopathy had relatively low sensitivity and high technical failure rates. The failure rates could be improved with higher resolution non-mydriatic wide-field photography cameras and with additional peripheral images for diabetic retinopathy screening.
Diabetic Retinopathy ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Mass Screening ; Ophthalmoscopy ; Photography ; Pupil ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Retrocaval ureter is a rare congenital anomaly. We experienced a case of retrocaval ureter with double inferior vena cava and with intermittent right flank pain in 54 years old female. We performed IVU, RGP, Venacavogram, MRI, and diuretic DTPA renal scan. MRI is the best single study to delineate the anatomy clearly and noninvasively. She was treated with conservative treatment.
Female ; Flank Pain ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Pentetic Acid ; Retrocaval Ureter* ; Vena Cava, Inferior*

OBJECTIVES: Septic shock is characterized by the circulatory failure including vasodilation, hyporeactivity to vasoconstrictor agents and organ ischemia in association with multiple organ failure and increased platelet aggregation and blood coagulation. In the present study, we investigated the preventive effects of N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 30mg/kg, i.p.), a non-selective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, S-methylisothiourea sulfate (SMT, 5mg/kg, i.p.) and pentoxifylline (PTX,10mg/kg, i.p.) on the multiple organ dysfunction in a rat model of circulatory shock induced by bacterial endotoxin (E. coli lipopolysaccharide: LPS) and discussed the mechanism underlying the development of multiple organ failure. METHODS: The effect of each other N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME, 30 mg/kg, i.p.), a non-selective nitric oxide synthase(NOS) inhibitor, S-methyli-sothiourea sulfate(SMT, 5mg/kg, i.p.) and pentoxifylline (PTX, 10mg/kg, i.p.) were comparatively evaluated following inducing circulatory shock by means of infusion of bacterial endotoxin to the rat model. RESULTS: 1) The systemic mean arterial blood pressure decreased by 48.7mmHg and vascular hyporeactivity to noradrenaline injection(1 g/kg, i.v.) upon intravenous administration of LPS. 2) Endotoxemia for 6hours resulted in little change in the numbers of white blood cells and neutrophils but a significant reduction in the numbers of platelets. The variables were not affected by the inhibitors. 3) Endotoxemia for 6hours caused a significant increase in serum nitric oxide level (P<0.01) which was inhibited by SMT, but not by L-NAME and PTX. 4) Upon injection of LPS, serum creatinine(0.65+/-0.08mg/dl) and urea(28.7+/-5.9mg/dl) were significantly elevated to 0.92+/-0.12 (P<0.05) and 54.3+/-2.1mg/dl (P< 0.01). These elevated levels were significantly attenuated by PTX but not by L-NAME and SMT. 5) Endotoxemia for 6 hours resulted in a significant increases in serum ALT(988.8+/-28.2 IU/L, P<0.01) and AST levels(1470.5+/-396.5 IU/L, P<0.01) from basal levels of ALT(67.8+/- 11.7IU/L) and AST(170.3+/-14.8IU/L). These increased activities were significantly attenuated by PTX, but not by L-NAME and SMT. The level of LDH(1279.8+/-156.2IU/L) was significantly increased by LPS treatment to 2932.0+/-519.9IU/L (P<0.05), which was inhibited by PTX. 6) Upon LPS treatment, the myeloperoxidase activity in the lung homogenate was significantly increased by LPS treatment (P<0.05), whereas that in the liver showed less change. The increased activity was reduced by PTX (P<0.05), but not by L-NAME and SMT. 7) The level of serum malondialdehyde, an index of lipid peroxidation by oxygen free radicals, was little influenced by LPS. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, it is summarized that PTX characteristically inhibited the development of multiple ogran dysfunction in a murine model of endotoxemia. Thus, it is concluded that the formation of TNF and increased activity of neutrophils may importantly contribute to the development of LPS-induced endotoxemia.
Administration, Intravenous ; Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Coagulation ; Endotoxemia ; Free Radicals ; Ischemia ; Leukocytes ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver ; Lung ; Malondialdehyde ; Models, Animal ; Multiple Organ Failure ; Neutrophils ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Norepinephrine ; Oxygen ; Pentoxifylline* ; Peroxidase ; Platelet Aggregation ; Rats* ; Shock ; Shock, Septic ; Vasoconstrictor Agents ; Vasodilation