Despite the possible consequences of maternal ingestion of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on future generation, information in limited on how/whether maternal PCB exposure affects testis of the adult male offspring. Therefore, we conducted two experiments to investigate the effects of intermittent and continuous of lactating rats to low and high doses of Aroclor 1242 (a PCB congener) on volume density of seminiferous tubules and interstitium, testis volume, sperm production/day and the total number of Sertoli cells per testis in adult male offspring. In experiment I, 3 groups of lactating Sprague Dawley rats received daily subcutaneous injections of 0.1 ml of corn oil, low dose (8microgram) and high dose (80microgram) of Aroclor 1242 in corn oil respectively, from parturition to weaning of pups at 21 days. In experiment II, 3 groups of lactating rats received 2 subcutaneous injections per week of 0.1 ml corn oil, low and high doses of Aroclor respectively, as in experiment I. Pups in all groups were weaned at day 21 and were raised on a normal diet until sacrificed at 90 days to evaluate volume density of seminiferous tubules and interstitium, testis volume, sperm production/day and the total number of Sertoli cells per testis. Volume density of seminiferous tubules and interstitium per testis was determined by point counting method. Testis volume and sperm production/day was measured by routine techniques. The total number of Sertoli cells per testis was determined by morphometry(disector method). In experiment I and II, the volume density of seminiferous tubules and interstitium per testis was equal in control and treated testes. In experiment I (continuous exposure), the testis volume was increased by 14.8% (low dose)~16.5% (high dose), and sperm production/day and Sertoli cell numbers were increased 20.4~25%, and 32.6~39.4%, respectively. In experiment II (intermittent exposure), testis volume, sperm production/day and the total number of Sertoli cells per testis were not significantly different (p>0.05) in PCB-exposed rats (both low and high doses) compared to controls. It is clear that continuous exposure, but not intermittent exposure of male rats to Aroclor during the neonatalprepubertal period causes detrimental effects on the testis in adult male offspring. These results emphasize the susceptibility of the developing testis to environmental factors during the crucial neonatal period.
Adult* ; Animals ; Aroclors ; Cell Count* ; Corn Oil ; Diet ; Eating ; Humans ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Male* ; Mothers* ; Parturition ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sertoli Cells ; Social Responsibility ; Spermatozoa* ; Testis* ; Weaning

Acute gastric dilatation without obstructive or organic disease is rare, but is possible after a gastric or an abdominal operation in cases of trauma, retroperitoneal hematoma, diabetic gastroparesis, hypoxemia, electrolyte imbalance, etc. However ischemic necrosis due to acute gastric dilatation is very rare and has been reported only in patients who has anorexia nervosa or overeat suddenly. If the distended stomach is not decompressed successfully by using a conservative method or if the process proceeds to ischemic necrosis, operative treatment is necessary. We experienced a case in which the stomach was acutely distended, and mutiple ischemic necroses had developed. The patient was a 27-year-old woman and had no specific underlying disease in her medical history. After overeating, the stomach was distended acutely. During the operation, mutiple ischemic necroses were found in the stomach. A total gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy were performed.
Adult ; Anorexia Nervosa ; Anoxia ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Gastric Dilatation* ; Gastroparesis ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Hyperphagia ; Necrosis* ; Stomach

BACKGROUND: Reperfusion of ischemic myocardium has been postulated to result in a specific oxygen radical mediated tissue injury. Iron may liberate during ischemia and we hypothesized that administration of the iron chelator, deferoxamine during ischemia would result in improved recovery after postischemic reperfusion. PURPOSE: To test whether iron-catalyzed processes contribute to myocardial necrosis during ischemia and reperfusion, deferoxamine was administered to block iron catalyzed hydroxyl radical formation in rabbits. METHODS: Eleven rabbits were divided into two groups: control group (n=5) and deferoxamine pretreatment group (n=6). the left circumflex coronay artery was ligated for 30 minutes and reperfused for 180 minutes. Area at risk (AR) was measured by non-stained area with ethylene blue injection into left atrium after left circumflex coronary artery ligation. Infarct size was measured by weighing after tripheyltetrazolium chloride staining. Heart rate was measured using electrocardiographic recording and systemic blood pressure was monitored by pressure transducer connected to the catheter in the left ventricle. RESULTS: 1. There was no significant difference of heart rate and blood pressure in deferoxamine pretreatment group compared with control group. 2. There was significant decrease of serum iron concentration after continuous infusion of deferoxamine compared with serum iron concentration before ligation of coronary artery (P<0.05). 3. There was no significant difference of area at risk between control and deferoxamine pretreatment group. 4. Area at necrosis to area at risk was significantly reduced in deferoxamine pretreatment group compared with control group (P<0.05) The results suggest that deferoxamine infusion prior to coronary artery occlusion has a significant benefit in reducing infarct size in this model.
Arteries ; Blood Pressure ; Catheters ; Coronary Vessels ; Deferoxamine* ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Atria ; Heart Rate ; Heart Ventricles ; Hydroxyl Radical ; Iron ; Ischemia ; Ligation ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardium ; Necrosis ; Oxygen ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion ; Transducers, Pressure

Takayasu's arteritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology involving the thoracic and abdominal aorta and its major branches. In some cases other vessel such as renal arteries, coronary arteries, and even pulmonary arteries may be involved. Total aortography is very important, because the clinical features are determined by the extent and severity of the specific artery involved in the occlusive phase of the disease. We report a case of Takayasu's arteritis type IV in a 38 year man with pulmonary arterial involvement and pulmo-nary hypertension.
Aorta, Abdominal ; Aortography ; Arteries ; Arteritis* ; Coronary Vessels ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Renal Artery ; Takayasu Arteritis*

OBJECTIVE: To assess change of bone metabolism in hemiplegic patients after stroke. METHOD: Sera were collected from 19 hemiplegic patients after stroke. Sera were assayed for 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-(OH)2D), parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium and osteocalcin. RESULTS: Serum 25-OHD and 1,25-(OH)2D concentration were 15.13 mg/mL and 20.88 pg/mL, respectively. Serum PTH was 47.23 pg/mL. In 5 (26%) of the patients, the serum 25-OHD concentration were < 10 ng/mL (deficient level). Ten (52%) of the patients had vitamin D concentrations between 10 and 20 ng/mL (insufficient level). The mean PTH concentration was not significantly higher in patients with deficient levels of 25-OHD (61.80 pg/mL) than those with insufficient (43.63 pg/mL) or sufficient (38.05 pg/mL) levels of 25-OHD. Serum 25-OHD concentration were lower in the late group (11.11 mg/mL) than in the early group (18.05 mg/mL), whereas serum PTH concentration were higher in the late group (58.96 pg/mL) than in the early group (38.70 pg/mL). CONCLUSION: Compensatory hyperparathyroidism with hypovitaminosis D occurred in the hemiplgic patients after stroke, especially more than one year from onset.
Calcium ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Metabolism* ; Osteocalcin ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Stroke* ; Vitamin D

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the tendency of occurrence of dental caries in the primary or permanent dentition of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and attempt to determine an appropriate treatment method. METHOD: We examined 29 children with CP treated in our rehabilitation center (CP group) and 27 normal children from one of the local kindergartens (control group). We checked DMF (decayed, missing and filled teeth) and DMF ratio (DMFR) and asked them if they underwent regular dental examinations or not. RESULTS: The mean age (+/-standard deviation) of the CP and control groups was 4.75 (+/-1.99) and 4.96 (+/-0.71), respectively. The prevalence of dental caries in the CP and control groups was 69% and 44%, respectively; moreover the percentage of patients in the CP group who underwent regular dental examinations was lower, as compared to the control group. Moreover, a significant statistical relationship between dental caries and regular dental examinations was observed only in the CP group. CONCLUSION: As compared to the control group, the prevalence of dental caries in children with CP was higher, and they also underwent regular dental examinations less frequently.
Cerebral Palsy ; Child ; Dental Caries ; Dentition, Permanent ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Rehabilitation Centers

Leiomyosarcoma of the duodenum is an uncommon tumor and have not specific symptoms and signs, almost all cases of tumor were diagnosed in operating room. This tumor is generally firm, relatively well encapsulated, lobulated and often soft if they undergo hemorrhagic necrosis. Most authors emphasized the relative number of mitosis as the most reliable findings of leiomyosarcoma. Recently, we experienced a case of leiomyosarcoma of duodenum which was confirmed by operative and pathological diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Duodenum* ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Mitosis ; Necrosis ; Operating Rooms

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation between duration of dysphagia and magnetic resonance image (MRI) findings in patients with stroke. METHOD: Ninety seven patients, who were evaluated by video fluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS), were recruited for 28 months. They were divided into two groups (transient group (n=52), prolonged group (n=45)) by removing time of NG tube from onset of stroke. Their MRI findings (lesion location and lesion size) were interpreted by one experienced radiologist retrospectively. RESULTS: The duration of dysphagia had statistically significant correlation with lesion size but there was no statistically significant correlation between lesion location and duration of dysphagia in patients with stroke. Compared with transient group (51.5+/-53.8 cm3), a larger lesion was found in prolonged group (95.5+/-107.7 cm3). CONCLUSION: Lesion size, not lesion location, can be a more important factor to predict early removal of NG tube in patients with stroke. More careful interventions about dysphagia are needed in patients with larger stroke lesion.
Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Magnetics ; Magnets ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of environmental factors on the ability of mobility in subjects with chronic stroke who can perform nearly independent activities of daily living (ADL). METHOD: Sixty one patients were divided into three groups (superior, middle, and inferior) by the degree of independent walking. Modified self-administered questionnaire was completed to report how well the patients encountered the environmental elements faced in community mobility. In addition, all patients were assessed to find out the difference of ADL performance, Berg balance scale (BBS), 10 m walking time (10 mWT) and patterns of 'going out' among the three groups. RESULTS: The group 1 (superior group) had shown better performance than group 2 (middle group) and group 3 (inferior group) in performance of ADL, BBS, 10 mWT. Secondly, the group 1 visited more places or destinations per day than the group 2 and 3, and they used more various transportation systems than other groups. Finally, there were significant differences in the distance dimension, the temporal dimension, terrain dimension (except for a 'getting on a elevator' component), and density dimension among the groups. CONCLUSION: Environmental factors as well as functional abilities could affect the mobility of subjects with chronic stroke. This result suggests that any kinds of compensation and the supports of social institutions are needed even in subjects of nearly independent ADL for their improvement of mobility and convenience.
Activities of Daily Living ; Compensation and Redress ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Stroke ; Transportation ; Walking

OBJECTIVE: To localize lesions which correlate with depression after stroke. METHOD: This study was performed in 98 stroke patients who admitted at two hospitals in Daegu in 2006. Lesions on magnetic resonance imaging were reviewed by same neuroradiologist and depression was diagnosed by same phychiatrist using DSM-III-R and ICD-10 criteria. We tried to find the correlation between the lesion location and depression. RESULTS: Depression was not related to age, sex, dominant hemisphere, underlying disease (HTN, DM, heart disease), and many lesions of interest of brain. Lesions in prefrontal area, limbic lobe, cingulate gyrus, post white matter and frontal lobe correlated significantly with depression. CONCLUSION: We found that there was a strong correlation between post stroke depression and the pathologic lesion which is frontal-subcortical circuit except basal ganglion and thalamus.
Brain ; Depression ; Frontal Lobe ; Ganglion Cysts ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Heart ; Humans ; International Classification of Diseases ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Stroke ; Thalamus