No abstract available.
Anemia* ; Erythropoietin* ; Humans* ; Kidney Failure, Chronic*

The linear scratching wound was made gently on the corneal epithelium of rabbit with 21 gauge needle under an operating microscope. Impression cytology was performed at 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3 and 4 hour and 1, 2, 3 and 4 day after 0.5% tetracaine drops under an operating microscope. The filter paper was stained with hematoxylin and eosin. At 30 minute post-scratching, a few polymorphonuclear leukocytes appeared on the scratched cornea at 3 eyes (30%). At 3 and 4 hour, numerous polymorphonuclear leukocytes with corneal epithelial cells appeared on the scratched conea. By 3 day, no inflammatory cells were shown on the filter paper in all eyes. These findings suggest that the polymorphonuclear leukocytes could infiltrate on the corneal lesion at 30 minute post-scratching and the inflammatory cells might act even on the minute corneal lesion such as corneal erosion.
Cornea ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Hematoxylin ; Needles ; Neutrophils* ; Tetracaine ; Wounds and Injuries*

No abstract available.
Rickets, Hypophosphatemic*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Hemofiltration* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Child* ; Hemofiltration* ; Humans

PURPOSE: To determine the preferred method of drinking water before spiral CT scanning of a gastric lesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Spiral CT scans of 92 patients with gastric lesion were obtained and evaluated. Patients drank tap water as oral contrast material and were scanned in the prone position; they were divided into two groups according to the method by which water was ingested. Group 1 patients drank 500ml 60 minutes before scanning; 500mL, 30 minutes before scanning; and 500mL just before scanning, while those in group 2 drank 800-1000mL just before scanning. In all cases, precontrast images were obtained, and an additional 300mL of water was given if the stomach was not adequately distended. Postcontrast images were obtained at 35 seconds, 80 seconds and 3 minutes after the start of infusion of contrast material. For 35- and 80-second scans, spiral CT was performed with 5-mm collimation, 7mm/sec table feed, and 5-mm reconstruction interval; for precontrast and 3-minute scans, 10-mm collimation, 10mm/sec table feed, and 10-mm reconstruction interval were used. There were 40 patients in group 1, and 52 in group 2. The images of the two groups were evaluated according to three criteria: gastric distension, mucosal enhancement, and tumor distinction. For each criterion, the images were evaluated by grading; an 'excellent' image scored 3, 'good' 2, 'ordinary' 1, and 'poor' 0. The differences in imaging quality between the two groups were statistically evaluated. Images obtained at 35 and 80 seconds, and at 3 minutes after the start of infusion of contrast material were compared, and the detectability of 18 confirmed cases of early gastric cancer was evaluated. RESULTS: For gastric distension, the mean score was 1.65 in group 1, and 1.81 in group 2 (P=0.33); the corresponding figures for mucosal enhancement were 1.45 and 1.65 (P=0.11), and for tumor distinction, 1.30 and 1.52 (P=0.09). Between the two groups, there was therefore no statistical difference in image quality. With regard to postcontrast images, those obtained after a delay of 35 seconds were best; those obtained at 80 seconds were better than those obtained at 3 minutes. Fifteen of 18 case of early gastric cancer were detected on spiral CT, and the detection rate was 83.8%. CONCLUSION: No statistically significant difference was seen between the two groups, and a single drink of water-just before scanning- is thus preferable to several drinks. Two scans, with images delayed for 35 and 80 seconds after contrast enhancement, are adequate. The use of these methods may improve the image quality of gastric lesions and the detection rate of early gastric cancer.
Drinking Water ; Eating* ; Humans ; Prone Position ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Tomography, Spiral Computed* ; Water*

The limb-body wall malformation complex is a sporadic congenital anomaly characterized by protean manifestations. The diagnosis is based upon the presence of at least two out of craniofacial anomaly, body wall defect, and limb abnormalities. We present a case of limb-body wall malformation complex. This case shows abdominal and pelvic wall defects with eventration of the viscera. It also shows an absence of right kidney, polycystic left kidney, absence of external genitalia and anus, and lower extremity abnormalities. The right lower extremity is absent and the deformed left leg shows malformed foot-like structure attached to the shin in addition to a normally positioned left foot. Our patient is the first case of complete absence of the external genitalia associated with limb-body wall malformation complex in Korean publications and the seventh in English publications.

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate prognostic significance of Rb and p53 protein immunostaining in renal cell carcinoma. We investigated correlations between Rb, p53 immunostaining and nuclear grade and stage as prognostic factors of renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects of this study were sixty-nine cases of renal cell carcinoma. We used indirect immunohistochemical methods in the formalin-fixed paraffin- embedded tissue (Rb: Pharmingen, USA; p53: Novocastra, UK). In staging and nuclear grading of the renal cell carcinoma, the American Joint Commitee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM system and Fuhrmans grading system were applied respectively. RESULTS: According to Fuhrmans grading system, four cases were classified grade I, 15 cases were classified grade II, 13 cases were classified grade III, and 37 cases were classified grade IV. By AJCC TNM staging system, 29 cases were grouped stage I, 20 cases were grouped stage II, 15 cases were grouped stage III and five cases were grouped stage IV. In 55 cases (79% of all cases), Rb protein was expressed. Expression of Rb protein did not correlate with nuclear grade nor tumor stage. p53 protein was expressed in 17 cases (24% of all cases). p53 protein expression was frequently detected in high nuclear grade group (p < 0.05), but was not correlated with tumor stage. CONCLUSION: Expression of Rb protein was not conelated with nuclear grade and stage. And expression of p53 protein was not correlated with stage, but it is correlated with nuclear grade. Thus immunohistochemical examinstion of p53 could be a histological prognostic factor.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Joints ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retinoblastoma Protein

PURPOSE: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Serum levels of TNF-alpha are elevated in many human cardiac related pathogenic conditions, including heart failure. It is well known that TNF-alpha inhibits myocardial contractility and induces apoptosis of adult rat cardiomyocytes via stimulation of TNF receptor 1. But pathophysiologically relevant low levels of TNF-alpha can not induce apoptosis of neonatal cardiomyocytes. So, we evaluated the effects of different concentrations of TNF-alpha in cultured rat neonatal cardiomyocytes : apoptosis or necrosis. METHODS: Neonatal ventricular myocytes were isolated from 3-day-old rats by stepwise collagenase dissociation, and the cells were cultured for 3 days. After that, cardiomyocytes were treated with low(25 ng/mL) and high(250 ng/mL) concentration of TNF-alpha for 48 hours. Apoptosis was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transfer-mediated end labelling(TUNEL) staining, and cell viability was evaluated by lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) measurements using cell culture supernatants. RESULTS: Low dose TNF-alpha did not induce apoptosis compared with controls(10.5 +/- 3.5% : 10.4 +/- 4.3%). And high dose TNF-alpha also did not induce significant apoptosis(10.2 +/- 3.6% : 10.4 +/- 4.3%). There was no detectable morphological changes of cardiomyocytes after low and high concentration of TNF-alpha treatment. LDH levels after TNF-alpha treatment was not significant compared with control(control : low : high, 3.2 +/- 0.1% : 3.1 +/- 0.2% : 3.3 +/- 0.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that high concentration of TNF-alpha alone can not induce apoptosis and significant cytotoxicity in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.
Adult ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Survival ; Collagenases ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; Muscle Cells ; Myocytes, Cardiac* ; Necrosis ; Rats* ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

NAG activity has been measured in the urine of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and renal disease subjects. Results have shown significantly higher levels of Urinary NAG in hypertension, diaetes and renal disease subjects compared to normal control Subjects group(P<0.001). Urinary NAG measurement is simple and accurate and it provides a valuable information in the early detection of renal dysfunction in hypertension and diabetes subjects and also in the follow up of these patients.
Acetylglucosaminidase* ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension*