Calpain I (mu-calpain) and II (m-calpain) are well known calcium-activated neutral cysteine proteases. Many reports have shown that activation of calpain is related to cataract formation, neuronal degeneration, blood clotting, ischemic injuries, muscular dystrophy and cornified cell envelope (CE) formation. Here, we report that insoluble CE formation was reduced after treatment with calpain I inhibitor (N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal) on normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK), whereas serine and thiol protease inhibitors had no effect on the reduction of CE. When NHEK cells were confluent, keratinocytes were treated with various concentrations (0.5 microM-0.5 mM) of calpain I inhibitor or serine and thiol protease inhibitors under calcium induced differentiation. Insoluble CE formation was reduced about 90% in the 50 microM calpain inhibitor I treated group by day 9 of culture, whereas insoluble CE was reduced only 10% in the same condition. Interestingly TGase activity was blocked by 90% in the 0.5 mM calpain inhibitor treated group within 72 h, whereas TGase activity was retained by 80% in the 0.5 mM serine protease inhibitor treated group at 7 day treatment. Therefore it can be suggested that cysteine protease calpains might be responsible for the activation of the TGase 1 enzyme to complete insoluble CE formation during epidermal differentiation.
Calcium/pharmacology ; Calpain/metabolism* ; Calpain/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Cell Differentiation ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Epidermis/metabolism ; Human ; In Vitro ; Keratinocytes/metabolism ; Keratinocytes/enzymology ; Protease Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Protein-Glutamine gamma-Glutamyltransferase/metabolism* ; Protein-Glutamine gamma-Glutamyltransferase/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Tissue Culture

Arachnoid cysts are benign developmental cysts that occur between aachnoid layers, which represent approximately 1 percent of all intracranial space-occupying lesions, their most common location being the middle cranial fossa. Current surgical treatment options for intracranial arachnoid cyst are either craniotomy and excision of cyst or shunting of cyst contents extracranially. We treated 10 cases of intracranial arachnoid cyst by excision during last two years. For the best surgical curability, we have, not only removed the cyst wall and adhesive gliotic tissue as possible, but also made the opening to basal cistern for communication. During average 8.4 months follow up, we observed, not specific morbidity and mortality, but good clinical improvement and brain expansion. As above result, if haven't specific problem, the direct surgical removal may be the primary choice for intracranial arachnoid cyst, especially in children with noncommunicating type in sylvian.
Adhesives ; Arachnoid Cysts* ; Brain ; Child ; Cranial Fossa, Middle ; Craniotomy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mortality

Benign osteoblastic lesions are rare bone tumor and they are usually devided into osteoid osteoma & benign osteoblastoma based on their biological behavior. A benign osteoblastoma is prevalent in the spine, with the lamina and pedicle being involved frequently. Neurological abnormalities are more frequent in patients with osteoblastoma, which frequently extend into the neural canal. Relief of pain and neurological recovery is dependent primarily on the degree of tumor removal. We have experienced good result after excision of a benign osteoblastoma at the cervical spine in a 37-year-old patient.
Adult ; Humans ; Neural Tube ; Osteoblastoma* ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoma, Osteoid ; Spine*

A case of intracerebral tension pneumatocele as a complication of an Osteoma in the Fronto-ethmoid sinus is reported. The commonest causes of intracranial air are head trauma and neurosurgical procedures. Less common etiologies include infection due to gas-forming organisms, mucoceles, tumors(e.g. osteomas carcinomas pituitary adenomas peripheral nerue tumors) and congenital neurenteric cysts or dural defects. Computed tomography permitted rapid diagnosis including localization of the air thus facilitating prompt treatment.
Craniocerebral Trauma ; Diagnosis ; Mucocele ; Neural Tube Defects ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; Osteoma* ; Pituitary Neoplasms

We have studied 1927 cases of primary tumor patients, who were admitted, managed and registered at Cancer Center of Maryknoll Hospital from Nov. 1985 to Jun. 1988. Of these, 50 cases were metastasized to central nervous systems, and the cases of brain metastases were 31 cases. This report presents an analysis of 31 cases of metastatic brain tumors. The results are as followings: 1) The sexes were represented with 20 males and 11 females. In 20 cases(65%), the metastases occurred between the 6th decade and 7th decade. 2) The most frequent anatomical site of brain metastases was brain parenchyme(67.7%). 3) The most frequent site of primary malignancy was lung(45.2%), and the next order was choriocarcinoma of the uterus. 4) The clinical symptoms and signs of metastatic brain tumors were headache(87%), nausea, vomiting(35.5%) orderly. 5) In C-T scan findings, the metastatic brain tumors presented hyperdense area at 50% of cases before contrast enhancement, and were enhanced nearly almost of cases. 6) In cases which could be treated surgical procedure, radiation and chemotherapy seemed to improve the prognosis.
Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Central Nervous System ; Choriocarcinoma ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nausea ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pregnancy ; Prognosis ; Uterus

Gastric dilatation is a rare life-threatening condition and consists of massive distention of the stomach by gas and fluid. Its etiology is unclear but predisposing factors include recent surgery, diabetic gastroparesis, fundoplication and gastric outlet obstruction. As the distended stomach grows larger, it hangs down across the duodenum, producing a mechanical gastric outlet obstruction, venous obstruction of the mucosa, ischemic necrosis and perforation. The distended stomach pushes the diaphragm upward, causing collapse of the left lung, rotation of the heart, and obstruction of the inferior vena cava. Hypochloremia, hypokalemia, and alkalosis may result from fluid and electrolyte losses and may precipitate cardiac arrhythmias. If acute gastric dilatation is not treated promptly, cardiovascular and pulmonary compromise may compound an increasing intravascular volume deficit leading to hypotension, which may be a cause of death.
Alkalosis ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Causality ; Cause of Death ; Diaphragm ; Duodenum ; Fundoplication ; Gastric Dilatation* ; Gastric Outlet Obstruction ; Gastroparesis ; Heart ; Hypokalemia ; Hypotension ; Lung ; Mucous Membrane ; Necrosis ; Stomach ; Vena Cava, Inferior

Gastric dilatation is a rare life-threatening condition and consists of massive distention of the stomach by gas and fluid. Its etiology is unclear but predisposing factors include recent surgery, diabetic gastroparesis, fundoplication and gastric outlet obstruction. As the distended stomach grows larger, it hangs down across the duodenum, producing a mechanical gastric outlet obstruction, venous obstruction of the mucosa, ischemic necrosis and perforation. The distended stomach pushes the diaphragm upward, causing collapse of the left lung, rotation of the heart, and obstruction of the inferior vena cava. Hypochloremia, hypokalemia, and alkalosis may result from fluid and electrolyte losses and may precipitate cardiac arrhythmias. If acute gastric dilatation is not treated promptly, cardiovascular and pulmonary compromise may compound an increasing intravascular volume deficit leading to hypotension, which may be a cause of death.
Alkalosis ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Causality ; Cause of Death ; Diaphragm ; Duodenum ; Fundoplication ; Gastric Dilatation* ; Gastric Outlet Obstruction ; Gastroparesis ; Heart ; Hypokalemia ; Hypotension ; Lung ; Mucous Membrane ; Necrosis ; Stomach ; Vena Cava, Inferior

No abstract available.
Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Humans ; Mass Screening* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Ligamentum Flavum* ; Spinal Cord Diseases*

No abstract available.
Diskectomy* ; Dust* ; Transplants*