We studied to assess the relationship between intrauterine growth retardation and theincreased nucleated red blood cell counts (NRBC) in small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriatefor gestational age (AGA) neonates with low birth weight. We also evaluated the nucleated red blood cell counts in low birth weight neonates who had either perinatal asphyzia or hyaline membrane disease (HMD) or died within 7 days after birth. The results were as follows: 1) In low birth weight neonates, the mean value for NRBC counts was 9.02/100 WBCs and the mean absolute value for NRBC counts was 0.9210E9/L. 2) The mean values for NRBC counts were 13.4/100 WBCs in SGA and 6.4/100WBCs in AGA. The mean absolute values for NRBC were 1.32x10E9/L in AGA neonates 3) In SGA neonates with low birth weight, the mean NRBC counts wers 19.6/100WBCs in asphyxiated group and 4.5/100WBCs in control group. The mean absolute NRBC counts were 1.9810E9/L in control group. 4) In AGA neonates with low birth weight, the mean NRBC countswere 9.1/100WBCs in asphyxiated group and 2.4/100WBCs in control group. The meanabsolute NRBC counts were 0.98x10E9/L in asphyxiated group and o.23x10E9/L in controlroup. 5) The mean NRBC counts were 13.8/100WBCs in neonates with HMD and 7.1/100WBCs in control group. The mean absolute NRBC counts were 1.50x10E9/L in neonates withHMD and 0.70x10E9/L in control group. 6) The mean NRBC counts were 19.9/100 WBCs in expired group and 6.8/100WBCs in suvived group. The mean absolute NRBC counts were 2.1810E9/L in expired group and 0.66x10E9/L in survived group. 7) The NRBC counts of SGA neonates were significantly higher than that of AGA neonates with low birth weight. 8) The NRBC counts of asphyxiated neonates were significantly higher than that of the control group. 9) The NABC counts of expired neonates were significantly higher than that of the control group. 10) The NRBC counts of expired neonates were significantly higher than that of the survived neonates.
Birth Weight* ; Erythrocyte Count* ; Erythrocytes* ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hyaline Membrane Disease ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn* ; Parturition*

An inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare tumor that is currently classified as an intermediate cancer according to the World Health Organization classification system. The pathophysiology of its occurrence is still unknown. Imaging tests, such as CT or MRI, can be helpful in diagnosis, but the final diagnosis is confirmed by a pathological examination through a biopsy and immunohistochemistry stain. The patient, in this case, presented an asymptomatic intrahepatic mass discovered incidentally on an imaging examination. Initially, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was suspected, but she was finally diagnosed with IMT through a histological examination after a liver resection.

Tuberculoma of the lungs is not an uncommon finding, but an ectopic liver in the lung is extremely rare. Pulmonary tuberculosis presenting as tuberculoma can be diagnosed radiologically, but its definite diagnosis is established by confirmation of the acid-fast bacillus or the unique histology. We report here on a case of tuberculoma of the left lower lobe that was erroneously diagnosed as ectopic liver by ultrasono-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy. An understanding of the normal variants of the liver can prevent a patient from undergoing an unnecessary invasive procedure.
Bacillus ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung ; Tuberculoma ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

OBJECTIVE: A variety of factors are known to have an influence on the recurrence of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). In this study, the authors investigated the influential factors for recurrence of CSDH after burr hole drainage. METHODS: 45 patients with unilateral CSDH were treated with one-burr hole trephination and closed drainage in our hospital during last 6 years, whom the drainage catheter tip was randomly located and checked on postoperative computed tomography (CT). The clinical status of patients, thickness of hematoma, midline displacement of before and after surgery, amount of subdural air collection, drainage catheter tip location were estimated and the relationship of those factors with the recurrence was analyzed. RESULTS: Patients with located catheter tip in frontal had a better clinical and radiological result. And the recurrence of CSDH was lower who has lesser amount of subdural air collection in postoperative CT. CONCLUSION: The recurrence rate of unilateral CSDH is influenced by the location of drainage catheter tip and the amount of subdural air collection.
Catheters ; Displacement (Psychology) ; Drainage ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic ; Humans ; Recurrence

There are few reported cases of post-operative spondylitis caused by Mycobacterium intracellulare. A 75-year-old female presented to our hospital with low back pain and paraparesis after a fall. The radiologic examination revealed compression fractures of L1, L3 and L4 and an epidural hematoma compressing the spinal cord. The dark-red epidural hematoma was urgently evacuated. Four weeks post-operatively, neurologic deficits recurred with fever. On magnetic resonance image, an epidural abscess and osteomyelitis were detected in the previous operative site. Five weeks post-operatively, revision was performed with multiple biopsies. The specimen were positive for acid-fast bacilli and traditional anti-tuberculous medications were started. Because the Polymerase Chain Reaction for non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) was positive, the anti-tuberculous medications were changed to anti-NTM drugs. However, the neurologic deficits did not improve and persistent elevation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were noted. Eight weeks after the revision, Mycobacterium intracellulare was detected in the specimen cultures. Despite supportive care with medication, the patient died due to multiple organ failure.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Epidural Abscess ; Female ; Fever ; Fractures, Compression ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Multiple Organ Failure ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium avium Complex ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Osteomyelitis ; Paraparesis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spinal Cord ; Spondylitis

FVIII is synthesized as a single chain precursor of approximately 280 kD with the domain structure of A1-A2-B-A3-C1-C2 and it circulates as a series of metal ion-linked heterodimers that result from cleavages at B-A3 junction as well as additional cleavages within B domain. Factor VIII is converted to its active form, factor VIIIa, upon proteolytic cleavages by thrombin and is a heterotrimer composed of the A1, A2, and A3-C1-C2 subunits. A1 subunits of factor VIIIa terminates with 36 residue segment (Met337-Arg372) rich in acidic residues. This segment is removed after cleavages at Arg336 by activated protein C, which results in inactivation of the cofactor. In the present study, site-directed mutagenesis of FVIII at Arg336 to Gln336 was performed in order to produce an inactivation resistant mutant rFVIII (rFVIIIm) with an extended physiological stability. A recombinant mutant heavy chain of FVIII (rFVIII-Hm; Arg336 to Gln336) and wild-type light chain of FVIII (rFVIII-L) were expressed in Baculovirus-insect cell (Sf9) system, and a biologically active recombinant mutant FVIII (rFVIIIm) was reconstituted from rFVIII-Hm and rFVIII-L in the FVIII-depleted human plasma containing 40 mM CaCl2. The rFVIIIm exhibited cofactor activity of FVIIIa (2.85 x 10(-2) units/mg protein) that sustained the high level activity during in vitro incubation at 37 degrees C for 24 h, while the cofactor activity of normal plasma was declined steadily for the period. These results indicate that rFVIIIm (Arg336 to Gln336) expressed in Baculovirus-insect cell system is inactivation resistant in the plasma coagulation milieu and may be useful for the treatment of hemophilia A.
Animal ; Baculoviridae/genetics ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Factor VIII/metabolism* ; Factor VIII/genetics ; Factor VIII/chemistry ; Factor VIII/biosynthesis ; Genetic Vectors ; Human ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Recombinant Proteins/metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis ; Spodoptera

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease. Pathologic changes occurred in patients with AS result in a weakened vertebral column with increased susceptibility to fractures, even though a trivial injury. Fractures usually tends to involve the lower cervical spine, but rarely, they are also occurred in thoracolumbar spine. We present our experiences of three cases of spinal fracture in patients with AS, cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, with a review of literatures.
Humans ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Spinal Fractures ; Spine ; Spondylitis ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing

Cervicomedullary junction arteriovenous malformation(AVM) is extremely rare. The authors present a case of a cervicomedullary junction AVM in a 31-year-old woman presenting with recurrent intraventricular hemorrhage(IVH). Magnetic resonance imaging revealed the AVM(of a size of approximately 2X2.5X4cm) extending from a lower medulla to C2-3 level. Vertebral angiography demonstrated a tightly coiled vascular mass with multiple feeders (radiculomedullary arteries) and irregular-shaped aneurysm at distal part of feeder originating at right C-1 level. The patient underwent superselective embolization of upper nidus and the aneurysm. The pertinent literature is reviewed, and diagnostic and therapeutic implications are discussed.
Adult ; Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Female ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Cholesterol granuloma of frontal bone is a rare disease which usually occurs at the lateral part of the supraorbital ridge. This expanding lesion grows slowly and extends into the orbit and anterior cranial fossa. The most common symptom is proptosis. This granuloma is composed of a granulomatous reaction surrounding cholesterol crystals. Surgical treatment involves aspiration of contents and stripping or curettage of the lining which is highly successful. We experienced a case of cholesterol granuloma of frontal bone with huge intracranial extension, which was cured by surgical removal. The clinical features, radiologic, and pathologic finding were discussed and the pertinent literatures were reviewed.
Cholesterol* ; Cranial Fossa, Anterior ; Curettage ; Exophthalmos ; Frontal Bone* ; Granuloma* ; Orbit ; Rare Diseases

The expression of major human apurinic/apyrimidinic DNA endonuclease (APEX) from its cDNA in E. coli (DH5 alpha) was attempted in order to obtain a biologically active recombinant APEX. E. coli cells were transformed by a prokaryotic translation vector (pGEX-4T-3) harboring APEX cDNA. GST-APEX fusion protein with a molecular weight of 6.3 KDa was induced by IPTG (1.0 mM) treatment. Western blot immunodetection identified the induced protein as the GST-APEX fusion protein. The survival rate of E. coli cells (DH5 alpha) transformed with pGEX-4T-3-APEX increased when the cells were treated with N-diethyl-N-nitrosamine (DENA) or 3'-methyl-4-monomethylaminoazobenzene (3'-MeMAB), indicating that APEX expression had a protective effect on the cytotoxicity of these carcinogens. The fusion protein extracted from E. coli cells and purified by GSH-agarose gel affinity chromatography exhibited APEX activity. Treatment of thrombin to the GST-APEX fusion protein and affinity purification followed by Sephacryl S-100 gel filtration resulted in APEX peptide with MW 36 KDa, which exhibited AP DNA repair activity (8,7000 EU/mg protein). N-ethylmaleimide (0.1 mM) or AMP (0.98 mM) inhibited APEX activity by 50% and kinetic analysis indicated that the recombinant APEX (rAPEX) had a Km value of 0.022 microM (AP sites for AP DNA) and the Ki value was 0.48 mM for AMP. These results indicated that E. coli cells expressing biologically active GST-APEX were resistant to the cell damage caused by chemical carcinogens and that rAPEX purified from E. coli cells transformed with APEX cDNA-inserted translation vector was similar to native APEX in some properties.
Carbon-Oxygen Lyases/biosynthesis* ; Diethylnitrosamine/pharmacology ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Escherichia coli/drug effects ; Human ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/biosynthesis*