Thirty five male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with cadmium chloride solution ranging from 0.2 to 3.2mg CdCl2/kg by intravenous single injection. At 48 hours after administration of cadmium, total cadmium, MT bound cadmium and histopathologic finding in liver, kidney, lung, heart, testis, metallothionein in liver, kidney and total cadmium in blood were examined. Tissue cadmium concentration was highest in liver, followed by in kidney, heart, lung and testis. Cadmium bound to metallothionein(MT-Cd) and ratio of MT-Cd to total cadmium were increased in liver and kidney dependently of cadmium exposure dose, but not significantly changed in other organs. On histopathologic finding, the most susceptible organ was heart in considering cadmium exposed dose, but testis in considering cadmium concentration. Blood cadmium concentration was increased with dose-dependent pattern, and significantly correlated with tissue cadmium concentration, so that we may estimate tissue cadmium concentration by measurement of blood cadmium concentration. Metallothionein in liver and kidney was increased with dose-dependent pattern, higher in liver than in kidney, and was significantly correlated with tissue cadmium concentration. However, metallothionein induction efficiency of tissue cadmium(microgram MT/microgram Cd) was greater in liver than in kidney, and reverse to tissue concentration or exposed dose of cadmium.
Animals ; Cadmium Chloride ; Cadmium* ; Heart ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Male ; Metallothionein* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis

The estrogen receptor (ER) is present in a wide variety of mammalian tissues and is required for the physiological responses of estrogen, including estrogen-induced tissue-specific changes in gene expression. But most of our knowledge on the regulation of ER mRNA levels comes from in vivo steroid replacement experiments or cancer cell lines that express the ER. Thus the present study was attempted to determine 1) the anterior pituitary ER mRNA levels during rat estrous cycle 2) if estradiol itself directly modulates the ER mRNA levels in cultured rat anterior pituitary using RT-PCR method. In rats with 4 day estrous cycle, the ER mRNA levels in anterior pituitary gland reached to maximum at proestrus 11:00h just before serum estradiol concentration showed the highest. From then, the ER mRNA levels gradually declined during the rest of the proestrus. On the other hands, in cultured rat anterior pituitary cells, the ER mRNA levels were significantly decreased by the treatment of estradiol. These results indicate that the surge of estradiol was proceeded by the increase in pituitary ER mRNA levels during the proestrus and in cultured anterior pituitary cells, estrogen might be involved in the down-regulation of the ER mRNA levels.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Down-Regulation ; Estradiol ; Estrogens* ; Estrous Cycle ; Gene Expression ; Hand ; Pituitary Gland, Anterior* ; Proestrus ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger*

Although extrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma are frequent as about 64%, implants involving the peritoneum are rare. We presented a cases, whieh is hepatocellular carcinoma with metastasis to visceral peritoneum revealing multiple, hard, variable-sized and nodular mass including large mass over 10 cm in size. The presence of tumor was diagnosed by serum alpha fetoprotein, abdaminal CT, celiac and SMA angiography and biopsy with laparoscopy.
alpha-Fetoproteins ; Angiography ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Laparoscopy ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Peritoneum

BACKGROUND: It has been suspected that laparoscopic surgery exacerbates hypothermia to a greater extent than open surgery. Thus, this study was designed to compare the intraoperative thermoregulatory profiles of three different operative techniques: open surgery, low pressure (LP: 8 mmHg) or conventional pressure (CP: 13 mmHg) laparoscopic surgery. METHODS: Forty five patients who were scheduled for radical hysterectomy were allocated to three groups, 15 in each group: group O (open surgery), group LP and group CP. Anesthesia was maintained with 2.5% sevoflurane. Intraoperative core temperature and forearm minus fingertip skin temperature gradients were measured at 15-min intervals during the first three hours. Vasoconstriction threshold was defined by the esophageal temperature at which the skin temperature gradient equalled 0 degree C. RESULTS: All groups were comparable in terms of the characteristics of patients and preoperative body temperatures. Core temperatures and forearm minus fingertip skin temperature gradients were not significantly different among the three groups at all measurements. Thermoregulatory vasoconstrictions were observed in 6 of group O and 6 of laparoscopic surgical patients (4 patients from group LP and 2 patients from group CP). These 12 patients were divided into open (n = 6) and laparoscopic (n = 6) surgery group. There were no significant difference between the groups with regard to the vasoconstriction threshold and threshold time. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic procedures with conventional insufflation pressure have similar profiles in terms of intraoperative thermoregulation, when compared to open surgery. Lowering insufflation pressure to 8 mmHg can not reduce the risk of intraoperative hypothermia.
Anesthesia ; Body Temperature ; Body Temperature Regulation* ; Female ; Forearm ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures* ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; Hysterectomy ; Insufflation* ; Laparoscopy ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Skin Temperature ; Vasoconstriction

OBJECTIVE: To overcome the limitations of the single gene transfer, the authors present the results of wild-type p16 and p53 combined genes transfer in vitro to the U251MG and U373MG cell lines using cationic liposome as a vector. METHODS: To compare the therapeutic effect of the combined p16 and p53 genes transfer with the single p16 and p53 gene transfer, full length of wild-type human p16 and p53 gene, and combined p16-p53 genes were transferred in vitro to the U251MG and U373MG cell lines using cationic liposome as a vector. As the U251MG and U373MG cell lines are devoid of p16 and p53 genes, the therapeutic effect of the three groups of gene transfer could be evaluated by the growth suppression or percentage of the viable cells. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR), flow cytometry, and electron microscopy(EM) were used for evaluation of the growth suppression or apoptosis of the tumor cells. RESULTS: p16 gene, p53 gene and the combined p16-p53 genes were effectively transferred to the cell lines using cationic liposome as a vector resulting in dramatic decrease of the viable tumor cells in comparison to the control group(p=0.004). The cytotoxic effect of the gene transfer in the U251MG cell line was the most significant in the combined p16-p53 group. However, in the U373MG cell line p53 single gene transfer group showed more significant effect than the combined gene transfer group. Apoptosis was confirmed by EM in the combined p16-p53 genes group. The G1 phase arrest effect, confirmed by the flow cytometry was more prevalent in the p16 gene transfer group than the other groups. CONCLUSION: Cationic liposome-mediated transfer of combined p16-p53 genes to the human glioblastoma cell lines is proven effective. However, the therapeutic effect of the combined p16-p53 genes transfer was not consistently superior to the single p16 or p53 gene transfer.
Apoptosis ; Cell Line* ; Flow Cytometry ; G1 Phase ; Genes, p16 ; Genes, p53* ; Glioblastoma* ; Humans* ; Liposomes ; Reverse Transcription

Ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and areflexia are a classical triad of Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS). The experience of dizziness secondary to ophthalmoplegia is also not uncommon. However, nystagmus is rare and vertigo, a symptom of vestibulocerebellar dysfunction, has not been reported yet. A 56-year-old woman visited our hospital due to sudden vertigo. Initial examination revealed nystagmus evoked by a bilateral horizontal gaze with left side dysmetria. The next day, her symptoms rapidly aggravated to ophthalmoplegia, severe ataxia, areflexia, and quadriplegia. She was diag-nosed with MFS and was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin. On the fourth day, she developed respiratory fail-ure and a ventilator was applied. Twenty-eight days after her admission, she recovered to the point of walking without any aid and was discharged with minimal disability. There are still controversies surrounding the nosology of MFS and many investigators have reported evidence for brainstem involvement. Vertigo can be additional evidence for the involvement of the central nervous system in MFS.
Ataxia ; Brain Stem ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebellar Ataxia ; Dizziness ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Middle Aged ; Miller Fisher Syndrome* ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Quadriplegia ; Research Personnel ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Vertigo* ; Walking

Diabetic mastopathy is a rare disease that occurs in long-term insulin-dependent diabetic patient. It manifests as a hard palpable breast mass that may be clinically indistinguishable from a breast carcinoma. Mammography shows a non-specific, dense, heterogenous glandular opacity in both breasts. Sonography shows a markedly hypoechoic, ill-marginated mass with a posterior acoustic shadowing. We present the mammography, ultrasonography and MRI findings of a 54-year-old woman with diabetic mastopathy.
Acoustics ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Mammography ; Middle Aged ; Rare Diseases ; Shadowing (Histology) ; Ultrasonography

We reviewed 40 patients with cervical discs operated from Jan. 1990 to Jun. 1994. The most common presenting complaints were radiating pain to one upper extrimity and the most frequent site of operation or involvement was the C5-6 level. Postoperative complications were encountered in 6 cases;Graft extrusion in one, donor site pain in three, and hoarseness in two cases. All postoperative complications were resolved within 3 monhs. In 95% of the patients, the outcome were excellent or good based on Odom's criteria. The duration of symptomes and the character of disc(soft or hard) did not affect the prognosis of outcome. All patients with radiculopathy have improved except two patients who had myelopathy instead they had persistent preoperative symptoms.
Hoarseness ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Prognosis ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: Most patients with acute viral hepatitis A (AVHA) spontaneously recover, but a few patients experience complications. This study was carried out to examine clinical features of AVHA complicated with acute renal failure (ARF). METHOD: Medical records of 404 patients with AVHA were reviewed. Clinical features of AVHA patients with ARF (group A) were compared with those of AVHA patients without ARF (group B). RESULT: ARF complication was present in 11 patients (3%). There were no differences between group A and B in sex ratio and age. Microscopic hematuria (7 cases), proteinuria (7 cases), metabolic acidosis (4 cases), oliguria (4 cases), pulmonary edema (3 cases) and hyperkalemia (2 cases) were found in group A. The prevalence of heavy alcohol drinking (64% vs 3%, p<0.001) and diabetes mellitus (18% vs 1%, p=0.01) was higher in group A than B. The peak value of ALT (median: 4,290 IU/L vs 1,266 IU/L, p=0.006) and total bilirubin (median: 10.8 mg/dL vs 6.0 mg/dL, p=0.001) was higher in group A than B. Duration of admission was longer in group A than B (median: 14 days vs 5 days, p<0.001). Four patients of group A recovered with renal replacement therapy, while 7 patients recovered with conservative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The AVHA patients with ARF experienced more severe hepatitis than those without ARF, but they had a good prognosis with the proper treatment.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alanine Transaminase/analysis ; Bilirubin/analysis ; Biological Markers/blood ; Child ; Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology ; Female ; Hepatitis A/*complications/diagnosis ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Acute/*virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: To examine the prophylactic antibiotic use in reducing surgical site infection. METHODS: This was a retrospective study for patients aged 18 years and older who underwent gastrectomy, cholecystectomy, colectomy, cesarean section and hysterectomy. The data source was quality assessment data of the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service gathered from medical records of 302 national hospitals. Prophylactic antibiotic use was defined as: timely antibiotic administration or inappropriate antibiotic selection. We performed hierarchical logistic regression to examine the association between prophylactic antibiotic use and surgical site infection with adjustment for covariates. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 16 348 patients (1588 gastrectomies, 2327 cholecystectomies, 1,384 colectomies, 3977 hysterectomies and 7072 cesarean sections) and surgical site infection was identified in 351 (2.1%) patients. The rates of timely antibiotic administration and inappropriate antibiotic selection varied according to procedures. Cholecystectomy patients who received timely prophylactic antibiotic had a significantly reduced risk of surgical site infection compared with those who did not receive a timely prophylactic antibiotics (OR 0.64, 95% CI=0.50-0.83), but no significant reduction was observed for other procedures. When inappropriate prophylactic antibiotics were given, the risk of surgical site infection significantly increased: 8.26-fold (95% CI=4.34-15.7) for gastrectomy, 4.73-fold (95% CI=2.09-10.7) for colectomy, 2.34-fold (95% CI=1.14-4.80) for cesarean section, 4.03-fold (95% CI=1.93-8.42) for hysterectomy. CONCLUSIONS: This study examines the association among timely antibiotic administration, inappropriate antibiotic selection and surgical site infection. Patients who received timely and appropriate antibiotics had a decreased risk of surgical site infection. Efforts to improve the timing of antibiotic administration and use of appropriate antibiotic are needed to lower the risk of surgical site infection.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibiotic Prophylaxis/*standards ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; *Quality Indicators, Health Care ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Wound Infection/*prevention & control ; Young Adult