This study was conducted to observe complications of the nervous system in chronic renal failure (CRF) and to observe the time of recovery of the nervous complications after successful renal transplantation. Median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials(MN-SEP), tibial nerve somatosensory evoked potentials(TN-SEP), brainstem auditory evoked potentials(BAEP) and visual evoked potentials (VEP) were recorded by using a Medelec ST10 Sensor EP apparatus before renal transplantation and subsequently 2, 4 and 12 weeks after renal transplantation in 40 CRF patients (32 men and 8 women). Results were then compared with normal data from age, sex and height matched controls. . At the same time of EP testing, BUN, serum creatinine, hemoglobin, hematocrit and parathyroid hormone of CRF patients were checked, and these changes were compared with the alterations of multimodal EP. In pre-renal transplantation states, the values of all of the absolute latencies and most d the interpeak latencies of MN-SEP,TN-SEP and BAEP were more prolonged than those of normal controls, but absolute latencies of VEP were not prolonged significantly. Multimodal EP responses except VEP showed improvement toward normal for 2 weeks, a steady state until 4 weeks, and then further improvement until 12 weeks after renal transplantation. In general, multimodal EP responses except BAEP showed more significant improvement in 12 weeks than did those of 2 weeks after renal transplantation MNSEP did not recover to normal control levels even by 12 weeks after renal transplantation, whereas some of the TN-SEP components had recovered to normal control levels in 2 weeks after renal transplantation, but VEP showed no significant alterations compared with normal controls before and after renal transplantation. In pre-renal transplantation states, most frequent abnormalities were found in MN-SEP (51.3%) whereas least frequent abnormalities were in VEP (5%). BAEP showed only peripheral nervous system dysfunction, whereas the other EP showed central and peripheral.
Brain Stem ; Creatinine ; Evoked Potentials* ; Evoked Potentials, Visual ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Male ; Median Nerve ; Nervous System ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Tibial Nerve

Intraventricular hemorrhage is a common hemorrhagic cerebral disorder in premature, but occurs much less frequently in the full-term newborn. In order to obtain documentation of clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics of intraventricular hemorrhage in full-term, we performed cerebral ultrasonography on 602 newborn infants who had been admitted to neonatal intensive care unit at the Deppartment of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine between December 1989 and June 1991. 15 cases (2.5%) of intraventricular hemorrhage were analysed. The results were as follows: 1) Among 15 cases with intraventricular hemorrhage, there was no obstetrical and perinatal complication in 8 cases (53%) and 13 cases (87%) were neurologically normal at birth. 2) Sudden onset of dramatic neurologic abnormalitis inclued seizures, fever, bulging fontanel, irritability, lethargy, vomiting in cases (73%) and the remainder (27%) had no clinical symptoms and signs. 3) The age at diangosis of hemorrhage was before 72 hours in 5 cases (33%), between 4 and 7 days in 2 cases (13%), at 8 to 28 days in 8 cases (53%), 8 of 15 cases (53%) had Grade 1 IVH, four with Grade 2, cases with Grade 3, and 1 case of these infant demonstrated Grade IV IVH. The source of hemorrhage was subependymal germinal matrix in 12 cases (80%) and choroid plaxus in 3 cases (20%). 4) Precipitating factors were cerebral venous infarction in 7 cases, hypoxic injury in 5, and 3 other infants had no identifiable medical risk factors. 5) Among all 15 survivors, 2 of 3 infants with choroid plexus hemorrhage required placement of a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt, in the other case, ventriculomegaly decreased spontaneously.
Choroid ; Choroid Plexus ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Infarction ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Lethargy ; Parturition ; Pediatrics ; Precipitating Factors ; Risk Factors ; Seizures, Febrile ; Survivors ; Ultrasonography ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt ; Vomiting

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

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of both exogenous and endogenous osteopontin on normal and malignant ovarian epithelial cell growth, and on paclitaxel chemo-resistance. METHODS: The ovarian cancer cell line OV429, which showed low level of endogenous osteopontin and paclitaxel sensitive cell line OV420, which showed high level of endogenous osteopontin, and a normal ovarian epithelial (HOSE: Human ovarian surface epithelial) cells were treated with purified osteopontin. Furthermore, OV420 was treated with osteopontin siRNA alone or in combination with paclitaxel. Proliferation rates and cell cycle progression of treated cells were determined by the tetrazolium colorimetric (XTT) assay and FACS analysis, respectively. RESULTS: Exogenous osteopontin increased the proliferation rate of OV429 and OV420 but had negligible effect on normal HOSE. Ovarian cancer cell lines treated with siRNA showed significantly reduced the growth rates (P<0.05), and they were arrested in G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Furthermore, OV420 treated with paclitaxel in the presence of osteopontin siRNA showed significantly decreased the survival rate. CONCLUSION: Osteopontin promote cell growth in malignant but not in normal ovarian epithelial cells, and may confer paclitaxel-resistance by adhesion to each cell and minimized the cell surface which exposure to chemo-agents.
Cell Cycle ; Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells* ; Humans ; Osteopontin* ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Paclitaxel ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Survival Rate

This study was done in order to obtain normal data and normal wave form variations of brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) on various click stimulations of intensities of intensities and frequencies. Observations were made on 50 normal Korean volunteers (32 males and 18 females) ranging in age from 8 to 56 years. Silver disc electrodes 7mm in diameter were placed over the right and left ear lobes and vertex. Earphone rarefaction click stimulations were given with 10 click/sec 70 dB, 50 click/sec 70 dB and 10 click/sec 50 dB, and contralateral 40 dB masking noise. Using Medelec Sensor, input from recording electrode was led to differential amplifiers and the output was summated by average system and then recorded by X-Y plotter. Analysis time, low filter and high filter are adjusted to 10 msec, 100 Hz and 3,000 Hz, respectively, and 2,048 responses were summated. Normal data on various click stimulations and wave form variations of BAEPs were obtained. Increased intensity of click stimulation produced decreased latency and increased amplitude of each BAEP more discrete BAEP waves cound be obtained at 10 click/sec 70 dB than other type of stimulations. Absolute latency of each BAEP wave and interpeak latency were not significantly different from those of the normal data of the other laboratories.
Brain Stem* ; Ear ; Electrodes ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem* ; Humans ; Male ; Masks ; Noise ; Silver ; Volunteers

Niopam is a newer, nonionic, watersoluble contrast medium used predominately in cisternographic and myelographic studies with metrizamide lately. The former has fewer, less severe and shorter adverse reactions than the latter. Until now there were no reports on meningitis complicating Niopam CT cisternography or myelography. Now we present a case of aseptic purulent meningitis complicating Niopam CT cisternography.
Iopamidol* ; Meningitis* ; Metrizamide ; Myelography

Anomalous origin of one pulmonary artery from the ascending aorta is a rare congenital malfomation. To date, there have been 60 reported cases in the literature. Usually the right pulmonary artery arises form the ascending aorta and other malformations such as patent ductus arteriosus are commonly associated. Early diagnosis is essential because congestive heart failure develops in early life and operation is contraindicated if severe pulmonary vascular changes have occurred. We report a case of anomalous origin of right pulmonary artery from the ascending aorta, which is associated with patent ductus arteriosus and severe pulmonary hypertension. She was diagnosed by digital subtractional angiography and cardiac catheterization.
Angiography ; Aorta* ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Early Diagnosis ; Heart Failure ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Pulmonary Artery*

We reported a case of nontraumatic cerebrospinal fluid fistula who had concomittantly CSF rhinorrhea, pneumocephalus and bacterial meningitis. By metrizamide CT cisternography, we found her CSF fistula was likely to be on the right lateral wall of sphenoidal sinus. She was recovered from her symptoms by medical treatment and has been free of CSF rhinorrhea or meningitis without surgical repair of CSF fistula during recent 1 year follow up.
Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Fistula* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Meningitis ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; Metrizamide ; Pneumocephalus

BACKGROUND: During a 1-month period in 2005 , a series of 4 Leclercia adecarboxylata and 8 Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremias were reported from patients admitted to the emergency room. METHODS: An outbreak of L. adecarboxylata and P. aeruginosa bacteremia that occurred from February to March 2005 was investigated. The infection control nurse reviewed medical records and observed the procedures of blood cultures at the clinical microbiology laboratory. Specimens were obtained for investigational cultures from alcohol sponge, tray, sink, water of sink, saline cotton, microscope, computer, and telephone. RESULTS: L. adecarboxylata was isolated from 4 patients and P. aeruginosa from 8 patients during a 1-month period. Observation of the culture procedure revealed that saline cotton was used to prevent betadin skin discoloration. The culture of the saline solution yielded a heavy growth of P. aeruginosa, which was not isolated from any other specimens. CONCLUSIONS: This was a pseudoepidemic caused by contaminated saline cotton. The use of the saline cotton was stopped, and during the follow-up period of 3 months, no additional L. adecarboxylata or P. aeruginosa bacteremia were reported.
Bacteremia ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Enterobacteriaceae* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Medical Records ; Porifera ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Skin ; Sodium Chloride ; Telephone ; Water

Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) is a new treatment modality for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). From October 1992 to May 1993. among patients with BPH who are treated by TUMT (50watt. 915MHz), 40 patients who are followed up appropriately for 3 months are selected to analyze the effectiveness and indication of TUMT. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to voiding symptom and prostatic volume by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) : prostatism group (Group A, 27 cases) and urinary retention group (Group B, 13 cases), prostatic volume 40gm and less (Group I, 27 cases) and more than 40gm (Group II, 13 cases). We reviewed subjective symptoms of patients with Madsen & Iversen symptom score and examined urine analysis, PAP, PSA, uroflowmetry and TRUS beforeand after TUMT. The patients underwent 1 hour session on an out-patient basis with local anesthesia. The average age of patients was 70.9. Significant differences in symptom score, maximal flow rate and residual urine volume were observed in Group A and Group I compared with Group B and Group II (p<0.05). Complications were minimal, consisting of bladder spasm(7), urinary retention(4), hematuria(4) and urinary tract infection(1). We could observe the improvement of subjective symptoms and objective parameters after TUMT. Patients without urinary retention or with relatively small prostate ( <40gm) had a superiority in effectiveness. However. we failed in the cases of old age (more than 80 years old), poor in general condition and associated neurogenic bladder. Though TUMT is effective alternative treatment on patients with BPH, we considered that the selection of patient is very important to get better effectiveness.
Anesthesia, Local ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Prostatism ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate* ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Urinary Retention ; Urinary Tract