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

Urinary cadmium is used as a sensitive indicator for internal Cd dose, and increased excretion of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase(NAG), beta(2)microglobulin(MG) and total protein are useful indices for renal dysfunction by chronic exposure to Cd. The target group was 184 inhabitant(82 men and 102 women) in an abandoned mine area known as exposure to low level Cd. The control group was took 160 individuals(64 men and 96 women) in Cd not-exposed area. Urinary Cd concentration was significantly higher in the target group than the control. The geometric mean of urinary Cd for male was 2.56ng/l, 2.80ng/g creatinine and 2.50ng/S.G. in the target group and 1.19ng/l, 1.36ng/g creatinine and 1.17ng/S.G. in the control. For female 2.69ng/l, 3.94ng/g creatinine and 2.63ng/S.G. in the target group and 1.27ng/l, 1.97ng/g creatinine and 1.25ng/S.G. in the control, respectively. In addition, urinary Cd of the target group had affected by the period of residence and dietary habit for the rice and the vegetables from the target area. These findings suggest the chronic exposure to Cd of the target population. Mean excretion of urinary NAG, beta(2)MG and total protein were not significant between two groups. In the target group, urinary NAG activity and total protein were significantly correlated with urinary Cd, but beta(2)MG was not related. Urinary excretion of NAG, beta(2)MG and total protein were significantly increased in 10 than in <2 of urinary Cd level. In 2~10 group of urinary Cd level, the excretion of NAG significantly increased while not showed for beta(2)MG. In present study, urinary excretion of NAG was relatively sensitive than beta(2)MG in chronic exposure population to low level Cd.
Acetylglucosaminidase ; Cadmium* ; Creatinine ; Female ; Food Habits ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Humans ; Male ; Vegetables

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis of the kidney usually occurs in association with urinary tract infection. obstruction and calculi. The diagnosis is made when a nephrectomy is performed for a nonfunctioning kidney or a mass indistinguishable from carcinoma. We experienced incidentally a case of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. so the pathologic features and clinical presentation were discussed and the literature was reviewed.
Calculi ; Diagnosis ; Kidney ; Nephrectomy ; Pyelonephritis, Xanthogranulomatous* ; Urinary Tract Infections

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common fatal malignancies worldwide, especially in Korea. The recent advances in diagnostic techniques, such as serum tumor marker assay, ultrasonography, computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and angiography, allow us to detect HCC at early stage. Even though, it remains difficult to distinguish malignant nodules from benign space-ccupying lesions of liver. Distinction of HCC from benign entities such as liver abscess is important because failure of prompt diagnosis could result in a missed opportunity for curative treatment. The differential diagnosis of HCC and liver abscess, especially HCC presenting as abscess, is sometimes very difficult. We report a case of HCC with liver abscess caused by secondary infection of CBD stone and cholangitis, that mimicked the dynamic CT findings of liver abscess, in an elderly patient with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
Abscess ; Aged ; Angiography ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cholangitis* ; Coinfection ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Ultrasonography