No abstract available.
Common Variable Immunodeficiency* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infertility* ; Luteinizing Hormone, beta Subunit*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Visual Acuity*

Authors experienced a case of insulinoma which was initially misdiagnosed as idopathic temporal lobe epilepsy with automatism. This patients did not show other hypoglycemic symptoms except seizure. It has been reported that some of the patients with insulinoma are unaware of hypoglycemia and are at increased risk for seizures and coma. These patients would have normal glucose uptake in the brain and consequently no sympathoadrenal activation would begin, resulting in an awareness of hypoglycemia. It this case, abnomal EEG pattern consistent with a complex partial seizure remained after successful operation. Recent reports indicate that hypoglycemia is capable of killing neurons in the brain. An endogenous neurotoxin is produced and is released by the brain into tissue and cere-brospinal fluid. Endogenous excitotoxins produced during hypoglycemia may explain the tendency toward seizure activity often seen clinically. We suggest that persistent abnormalities of EEG in this case may be related to focal neuronal damage in hypoglycemia.
Automatism ; Brain ; Coma ; Electroencephalography* ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe* ; Glucose ; Homicide ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulinoma* ; Neurons ; Neurotoxins ; Seizures ; Temporal Lobe*

We report a case of subclavian artery laceration caused by the removal of a pigtail pleural drainage catheter in a patient with a pneumothorax. The patient was successfully resuscitated through diagnostic angiography with subsequent balloon occlusion and primary repair of the injured subclavian artery. Although pigtail drainage of a pneumothorax is known to be safe and effective, proper insertion and removal techniques should be emphasized to reduce the risk of complications.
Angiography ; Balloon Occlusion ; Catheters* ; Drainage ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Lacerations* ; Pneumothorax* ; Subclavian Artery* ; Thoracostomy

Matrix metalloproteinases are believed to play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. But little is known about the role of them in the gastric adenocarcinoma. We investigated the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1,2,3 in eighty paraffin blocks of the primary gastric adenocarcinoma tissues with immunohistochemistry and analysed their correlation with lymph node metastasis and survival. MMP-1,2,3 were expressed most intensely in the fibroblasts around the tumor stroma. In our study the increased immunoreactivity of MMP-2 only showed statistically significant correlation with lymph node metastasis (P=0.0517, Odd's ratio=2.274). But MMP-1,2,3 all were correlated with survival. Type IV collagen was observed in the vascular basement membranes and tumor basement membranes and showed statistically significant correlation with lymph node metastasis (P=0.0002, Odd's ratio=0.194) and prognosis (P=0.0001). The immunoreactivity of MMP-2 and type IV collagen was inversely correlated (Kendall's Tau-b correlation = 0.37482, P=0.0001). Our results suggest that in human gastric adenocarcinoma the increased immunoreactivity of MMP-2 and the decreased immunoreactivity of type IV collagen has an important role in lymph node metastasis and prognosis. MMP-1,3 are not correlated with lymph node metastasis but correlated with survival. The mechanism responsible for the production of MMP by the host fibroblasts remains obscure and requires further investigation.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Basement Membrane ; Collagen Type IV* ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes* ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Paraffin ; Prognosis*

It is highly desirable to achieve optimal reproductive performance, reliable morphological and physiological basic data of the reproductive organs. Therefore, seasonal changes in serum testosterone, LH, and FSH concentrations, and morphological changes in testicular epithelial cells were studied in the Korean native pheasant throughout the annual cycle. Mature male pheasants[14-16 months after hatching] were used in this study. The general morphological changes of the epithelia of the seminiferous tubules were observed by dibasic stain, and semithin section from Epon blocks with a phase contrast microscopy. The ultrastructural changes of the the epithelia of the seminiferous tubules were investigated by ultrathin section with transmission electron microscope. The changes in the profiles of the serum FSH, LH, and testosterone concentratioins were measured by RIA[radioimmunoassay]. The results obtained are summarized as follows : 1. There was little variation in the average diameter of the seminiferous tubules from autumn[67.13+/-5.95micrometer] to winter[68.59+/-6.07micrometer], but the highest levels were reached in spring[192.78+/-41.58micrometer]. Thereafter, the diameter decreased slowly in summer[146.57+/-43.68micrometer], then decreased significantly in autumn[67.13+/-5.95micrometer]. 2. Serum testosterne concentration was low from autumn[13.+/-7.21ng/100ml] to winter[17.39+/-13.75ng/100ml], but the highest levels were reached in spring[127.72+/-66.47 ng/100ml]. Thereafter, the concentration was lowest in autumn[13.+/-7.21ng/100ml]. 3. Serum LH concentration increased slowly and linealy from autumn[5.04+/-1.04ng/100ml] to winter[6.23+/-1.08ng/100ml], but the highest levels were reached in spring[11.3+/-3.6 ng/100ml]. Thereafter, the concentration reached the lowest level in autumn[5.04+/-1.04 ng/100ml]. 4. Serum FSH concentration was low from autumn[4.65+/-0.63ng/100ml] to winter[4.2+/-0.98ng/100ml], but the highest levels were reached in spring[17.41+/-8.35ng/100ml]. Thereafter, concentration was the lowest in autumn[4.65+/-0.63ng/100ml]. 5. The seminiferous tubules showed the onset of the spermatongenic cycle in spring but the seminiferous tubules collected in summer exhibited partially degenerative changes. 6. The cytoplasmic process of Sertoli cells of the seminiferous tubules of the pheasant were collected in summer. Many vesicles and degeneratiye changes were included but many number of spermatozoa were embedded partially in the multivesicular bodies in these processes. 7. The diameter of the seminiferous tubules of the pheasant narrowed markedly in autumn, and atrophied in winter. The spermatogonia and Sertoli cells were arranged in monolayer. 8. The myelin figures in the cytoplasmic process of Sertoli cells of the seminiferous tubules of the pheasant in autumn. The nucleus of the Sertoli cells were of a round configuration elongated and oriented perpendicularly to the basement membrane. The results obtained provide basic data for reproductive physiology and are useful for studying the male genital organs of the Korean native pheasant. Structural changes of the seminiferous epithelial cells significantly and postively correlated with serum FSH, LH. The correlation of changes in the hormonal status with alterations of Sertoli cell organells precedes the breeding season.
Basement Membrane ; Breeding ; Cytoplasm ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium* ; Genitalia, Male ; Humans ; Male ; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast ; Multivesicular Bodies ; Myelin Sheath ; Physiology ; Seasons* ; Seminiferous Tubules* ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatogonia ; Spermatozoa ; Testosterone*

No abstract available.
Birth Weight* ; Leukocytes* ; Parturition* ; Zinc*

No abstract available.
Ligaments* ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse*

Prognostic factors in transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract were assessed with histopathological examination and flow cytometric analysis in a series of 33 patients treated between Jan. 1980 to Dec. 1990. During follow-up from 6 to 120 months, 14 patients died of transitional cell carcinoma. The rate of DNA aneuploidy pattern was 54.5 % and DNA aneuploidy pat tern showed significantly a poorer prognosis than diploidy pattern. DNA ploidy pattern was relatively correlated with grade, stage and clinical outcome. For stage TS (superficial tumor) and low grade, the occasional detection of DNA aneuploidy pattern identified an important subgroup which showed significantly a poorer survival. Only the stage and, to a lesser extent, tumor shape, grade and DNA ploidy pattern were determinants for prognosis in multivariate analysis. Based on these 4 variables 3 different subgroups of patients can be identified. In low risk group including stage TS (superficial tumor), low grade, DNA diploidy pattern and papillary tumor, 3 and 5 year survival rates were 88.9 % and 69.1 %. In high risk group including stage TE (extensive invaded tumor) and DNA aneuploidy pattern, 2 and 3 year survival rates were 15.3 %, 0.0 %. In intermediate risk group including stage TS (superficial tumor), DNA aneuploidy pattern, 3 and 6 year survival rates were 55.9 % and 43.5 %. In summary, DNA ploidy may be a useful parameter to identify risk groups, especially stage TS and low grade and to plan appropriate management of patients with primary transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract.
Aneuploidy ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Charadriiformes ; Diploidy ; DNA* ; Flow Cytometry* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Pelvis* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Ploidies* ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Ureter* ; Urinary Tract