The vanilloid receptor type-1 (VR1) is a nonselective cation channel activated by capsaicin and can be act as mediator of chemical and physical stimuli that elicit pain. The presence of VR1 in the dorsal root, trigeminal and nodose ganglia has been firmly established, but it unclear in the mouse intestinal wall. The distribution of VR1 receptors in mouse afferent neurons innervating the intestinal tract was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Also small and large intestines were dual-labelled with antibody for VR1 and marker for interstitial cells of Cajal (c-kit). VR1-immunopositive cells were localized on fine fibers in myenteric plexus and expressed weakly myenteric ganglia. The majority of VR1-immunopositive fibers are not colocalized with or apposed to c-kit positive interstitial cells of Cajal. Also electrophysiologically capsaicin had no effect on cultured interstitial cells of Cajal. It is concluded that VR1-immunoreactive intestinal nerves are mainly distributed in myenteric plexus of murine intestinal wall, and vanillod may be not directly related to interstitial cells of Cajal in regulation of intestinal motility.
Animals ; Capsaicin ; Ganglia ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal ; Intestines ; Mice* ; Myenteric Plexus* ; Neurons, Afferent ; Nodose Ganglion ; Spinal Nerve Roots

The vanilloid receptor type-1 (VR1) is a nonselective cation channel activated by capsaicin and can be act as mediator of chemical and physical stimuli that elicit pain. The presence of VR1 in the dorsal root, trigeminal and nodose ganglia has been firmly established, but it unclear in the mouse intestinal wall. The distribution of VR1 receptors in mouse afferent neurons innervating the intestinal tract was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Also small and large intestines were dual-labelled with antibody for VR1 and marker for interstitial cells of Cajal (c-kit). VR1-immunopositive cells were localized on fine fibers in myenteric plexus and expressed weakly myenteric ganglia. The majority of VR1-immunopositive fibers are not colocalized with or apposed to c-kit positive interstitial cells of Cajal. Also electrophysiologically capsaicin had no effect on cultured interstitial cells of Cajal. It is concluded that VR1-immunoreactive intestinal nerves are mainly distributed in myenteric plexus of murine intestinal wall, and vanillod may be not directly related to interstitial cells of Cajal in regulation of intestinal motility.
Animals ; Capsaicin ; Ganglia ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal ; Intestines ; Mice* ; Myenteric Plexus* ; Neurons, Afferent ; Nodose Ganglion ; Spinal Nerve Roots

PURPOSE: To identify the characteristic ultrasonographic findings of the normal appendix in children in order to detect it more easily and so to exclude acute appendicitis from a diagnosis with more confidence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 64 patients presenting with right lower quadrant pain, 44 patients, excluding 15 patients diagnosed as acute appendicitis and 5 patients with non-visualization of the appendix due to severe ileus and obesity, were evaluated for the point of incidence, the thickness and the presence of folding of the inner hypoechoic band of the normal appendix. The age of the patients ranged from 3 to 15 years with a mean age of 6.5 years. Two patients were operated on and we correlated the preoperative ultrasonographic findings with the histologic findings. RESULTS: In all the cases of the 44 patients with normal appendix, the inner hypoechoic band was discovered, which was seen as a linear structure without folding along the whole length of appendix. This measured as 0.75 mm (0.3-1.5 mm) for the mean thickness. The inner hypoechoic band corresponded to the mucosal layer that had abundant lymphoid tissue on the histologic examination. CONCLUSION:For the pediatric normal appendix, the inner hypoechoic band without folding is present, and this corresponds to the mucosal layer with abundant lymphoid tissue.
Appendicitis ; Appendix* ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Ileus ; Incidence ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Obesity ; Ultrasonography*

Tick paralysis is caused by a neurotoxin secreted by female tick. Characteristic initial manifestation is bilateral flaccid ascending paralysis similar to Guillain-Barr? syndrome. The predominant electrophysiological abnormality is a reduction in complex muscle action potentials. Here, we present a 62-year-old man who initially experienced a sudden biting pain on his scalp. Subsequently he developed bilateral lower extremity paralysis that ascended symmetrically involving the upper extremities. Within 2 weeks, the patient showed a full recovery without treatment.
Action Potentials ; Bites and Stings ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Middle Aged ; Muscles ; Paralysis ; Scalp ; Tick Paralysis ; Ticks ; Upper Extremity

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine in vitro development of early preimplantation mouse embryos in various kind of serum-free conditioned media (SF-VCM) manufactured from DMEM cultured with Vero Cells. METHODS: A total of 846 two-cell mouse embryos were cultured in different kind of SF-VCM. SF-VCMs were divided into SF-VCM-10, -30 and -50 by media volume using DMEM #1 media, and divided into SF-VCM #1, #2 and #3 by controlled concentration of glucose and pyruvate (manufactured by DMEM #1: mixed three volume of DMEM-G (DMEM with glutamine without glucose and pyruvate) and one volume of DMEM-GGP (DMEM with glutamine, glucose, pyruvate), #2: mixed same volume of DMEM-G and DMEM-GGP and #3: mixed one volume of DMEM-G and three volume of DMEM-GGP, respectively). Experimental groups were mainly added 10% SSS, and 20% hFF was added to only Control group co-cultured with Vero cells. Development of embryos was observed every 24 hours. Results between different groups were analyzed using Chi-square test, and considered statistically significant when P-value was less than 0.05. RESULTS: In vitro developmental rate by each cleavage stages of mouse embryos cultured in SF-VCMs with a various volumes were significantly (P<0.05) higher in SF-VCM-30 (morula< or =: 97.2%, Blastocyst (BL)< or =: 97.2%, Hatching BL< or =: 82.2%) than other groups. In the rate of development on in vitro co-culture vs. a various SF-VCMs manufactured by DMEM controlled concentration of glucose and pyruvate, Group I (SF-VCM #1) was higher than other groups in each cleavage stages (morula< or =: 98.1%, Blastocyst (BL)< or =: 97.1%, hatching BL< or =: 81.7%, respectively). Moreover, specially, in the developmental rate into the hatching blastocyst < or = after 96 hours in vitro culture, Group I (81.7%) was significantly higher than control group (67.6%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: SF-VCM #1 manufactured by volume of 30 mL DMEM #1 media cultured in vitro for 48 hours in 250 mL flask was the most effective on in vitro developmental rate of mouse preimplantation embryos. Therefore, it is expected that SF-VCM #1 has application to human IVF-ET.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Coculture Techniques ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Embryonic Structures ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Glucose ; Glutamine ; Humans ; Mice ; Pyruvic Acid ; Vero Cells

PURPOSE: Isosulfan blue dye has been widely used for localizing sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in breast cancer patients. The use of methylene blue has recently been applied for localizing SLNs. We compared the use of each dye to investigate the effectiveness of methylene blue for the localization of SLNs. METHODS: From January to December of 2005, 326 patients underwent surgery for breast cancer at Samsung Medical Center. In 86 patients, only a blue dye was used for SLN localization. Isosulfan blue and methylene blue were randomly given. Each dye (5 mL) was given by subareolar or peritumoral injection. The injection site was gently massaged with a warm gauze for 5 min. A frozen biopsy was performed for all SLNs, and an axillary dissection was done for positive frozen biopsy cases or cases in which axillary metastasis was clinically suspected. RESULTS: Fifty-eight cases (61.1%) had been treated with isosulfan blue and 37 cases (38.9%) had been treated with methylene blue. Blue nodes were found in 96.6% of samples in the isosulfan blue group and 86.5% of samples in the methylene blue group. The mean number of SLNs was 2.10 in the isosulfan blue group and 2.27 in the methylene blue group (p>0.05). The frozen biopsy was positive for malignant cells in 16 of 56 cases in the isosulfan blue group and 4 of 32 cases in the methylene blue group. Axillary lymph node dissection was performed in 23 cases in the isosulfan blue group and 19 cases in the methylene blue group. CONCLUSION: There are no significant differences in the success rate, the mean number of SLNs found and the false negative rate between the use of isosulfan blue and methylene blue for localization of SLNs in breast cancer patients.
Biopsy ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes* ; Methylene Blue* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

Angiogenesis is considered to be an integral process to the growth and spread of solid tumors. Anti-angiogenesis therapy recently has been found to be one of the most promising anti-cancer therapeutic strategies. In this study, we provide several lines of evidences showing that KR-31831, a new benzopyran derivative, has anti-angiogenic activities. KR-31831 inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and tube formation of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs), and suppressed the release of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) of BAECs. KR-31831 also inhibited in vivo angiogenesis in mouse Matrigel plug assay. Furthermore, the mRNA expressions of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 (FGFR-2), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) were decreased by KR-31831. Taken together, these results suggest that KR-31831 acts as a novel angiogenesis inhibitor and might be useful for treating hypervascularized cancers.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/metabolism ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2/metabolism ; Neovascularization, Physiologic/drug effects ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/*drug therapy ; Models, Biological ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2/metabolism ; Male ; Ischemia/drug therapy ; Imidazoles/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2/metabolism ; Endothelial Cells/drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cell Movement/drug effects ; Cattle ; Benzopyrans/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Animals ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors/*pharmacology/therapeutic use