No abstract available.
Alexander Disease*

No abstract available.
MELAS Syndrome*

PURPOSE: Bisphenol A (BPA), a plasticizer, shows estrogenic activity at low concentrations in cells expressing estrogen receptors, and therefore, it is classified as an endocrine disruptor. Although many studies have focused on the toxicity of BPA to the reproductive and immune systems, relatively less attention has been given to the effect of BPA on the central nervous system. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in cell proliferation and differentiation during infant brain development in BPA-exposed pregnant rats. METHODS: Two different doses of BPA were exposed to pregnant rats: (1) a low dose (0.01 mg/kg-bw/day) and (2) a high dose (1 mg/kg-bw/day). Infant brains were excised at days 3, 7, and 14 after birth, and tissues were processed for histological and biochemical analyses. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) showed that although cells in the cerebral cortex at days 3 and 7 after birth were highly proliferating, the cells at day 14 divided less often. Immunopositive cells for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were observed from days 7 to 14 in control tissues. Western blotting clearly showed that exposure to BPA in pregnant rats resulted in increased GFAP protein expression in the infant rat brain compared to the controls. CONCLUSION: Exposure to BPA during the gestational period might result in precocious neurogenesis in the infant rat brain.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain* ; Cell Proliferation* ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebral Cortex ; Estrogens ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Humans ; Immune System ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infant ; Neurogenesis ; Parturition ; Plastics ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Rats* ; Receptors, Estrogen

Recurrent abortion has been defined as the occurrence of three or more clinically recognized pregnancy loss before 20 weeks and it occurs in 1% of women. The chromosomal abnormalities of abortuses have been suggested as the most common causes of recurrent abortion. We have studied the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in 57 patients with recurrent abortion using the chorionic villi samples. Of the 57 abortuses analysed, 32 (56.1%) had chromosomal abnormalities. Trisomy was predominant (23 cases, 40.4%), followed by mosaicism 3 (5.2%), tetraploidy 2 (3.5%), monosomy 2 (3.5%), and structural anomaly 1 (1.8%). Trisomy for the chromosome 16 was most prevalent among trisomies. The incidence of trisomy was positively related to matemal age above 35 year-old. But there is not statistically significant. And there are no correlation between gestational age and chromosomal abnormalities. In conclusion, the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities of recurrent abortuses was 56.1% which was similar to that of the other reports. This means that the analysis of karyotype of chorionic villi, as the first test to investigate the cause of recurrent abortion, may be not useful, however, it will require further.
Abortion, Habitual ; Adult ; Chorion* ; Chorionic Villi Sampling ; Chorionic Villi* ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16 ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence ; Karyotype ; Monosomy ; Mosaicism ; Pregnancy ; Tetraploidy ; Trisomy

Miller Fisher syndrome, first reported by Miller Fisher in 1956, is characterized by a triad of external ophthalmoplegia, areflexia, and ataxia. Many features shared with Guillain-Barre syndrome; CSF usually shows elevated proteins and the syndrome is often is preceded by an infectious disorder. It is believed that the level of anti-GQ1b IgG antibody is elevated during an acute phase, increases and decreases rapidly during clinical recovery, that the level of anti-GQ1b IgG can be used as a diagnostic tool for Miller Fisher syndrome during an acute phase. We report an 8 year-old boy who showed typical clinical manifestations of Miller Fisher syndrome, with respiratory tract illness, associated with the seroconversion of Mycoplasma pneumoniae titers during the development of neurological symptom, with positive anti- GQ1b IgG.
Ataxia ; Child* ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Male ; Miller Fisher Syndrome* ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Respiratory System

Neovascularization is an important factor in the prognosis of brain tumor and many angiogenetic factors have been evaluated for prognostic significance. Among them, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are known as potent angiogentic factors and mitogens. We evaluated seven cases of grade II brain astrocytoma. Four, group A, was diagnosed as anaplastic progression at their second operation, and three, group B, did not. Using monoclonal antibodies to bFGF and VEGF in paraffin embedded tissue from first operation, their immunoreactivity and differences between two groups were examined. The growth fractions of these tumor were also measured by Ki-67 monoclonal antibodies (MIB1). Immunostaining for bFGF in tumor cells were observed in both nuclei and cytoplasm, and for VEGF, mainly observed in the cytoplasm. Mean cell count number +/- standard deviation per high power field in each were as follows: 1) for bFGF, 20.08 +/- 6.38 in group A and 0.87 +/- 0.90 in group B (p< 0.01), 2) for VEGF, 43.75 +/- 17.09 in group A, and 0.8 +/- 1.06 in group B (p< 0.05) and 3) for the proliferation index with Ki-67 antibodies, 3.20 +/- 0.81 in group A and 0.77 +/- 1.03 in group B (p< 0.05). This data supports the assertion that angiogenetic factor such as bFGF and VEGF may contribute to progressive change of astrocytoma by tumor angiogenesis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Astrocytoma/*pathology ; Brain/*blood supply ; Brain Neoplasms/*pathology ; Endothelial Growth Factors/*metabolism ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2/*metabolism ; Human ; Lymphokines/*metabolism ; Male ; Middle Age ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/*genetics ; Prognosis ; Tumor Markers, Biological

Fibroma of the tendon sheath is a benign slow-growing fibrous tumor. Although rare, cases occurring in the upper extremities usually involve the fingers. It appears as a well-defined, roundor oval-shaped mass originating from the flexor tendon. Abundant fibrous stroma makes fibromas appear as a low intensity mass in all MRI sequences. Most of the fibromas manifest as painless soft tissue masses. Herein, we report a case of fibroma of the tendon sheath with an unusual clinical presentation, triggering carpal tunnel syndrome during wrist movement.

PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate the indications, bronchoscopic findings, results of bronchoalveolar lavage, and complications and to report the clinical features of using flexible bronchoscopy for respiratory diseases in children. METHODS: We studied 105 patients who underwent flexible bronchoscopy at the Department of Pediatrics, Dong-A University Medical Center from June 2001 to June 2008. A bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed if need, and the BAL fluid was cultured for bacteria and fungi. We performed an acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear and culture. RESULTS: The most common indication for flexible bronchoscopy was suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (37 cases, 35.2%). The most common abnormal finding was excessive secretion, which was found in 53 cases (50.4%). BAL bacterial cultures were performed in 10 of 38 cases, and Hemophilus influenza was the most common organism and was found in three cases (7.8%). There were 17 AFB culture-positive cases (49.3%) among the 37 suspected pulmonary tuberculosis cases. Among these 17, the Tb-polymerase chain reaction (Tb-PCR) was conducted for four cases (23.5%) but only two cases (50%) were positive. TB-specific antigen-induced interferon-gamma was performed in four cases (23.5%), and all four cases (100%) were positive. CONCLUSION: Pediatric flexible bronchoscopy has made it possible to vary the indication and subjects. It was also safe and effective if used carefully. Further study should be conducted to develop safe and useful technology to overcome the limitations.
Academic Medical Centers ; Bacteria ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Bronchoscopy ; Fungi ; Haemophilus ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Interferon-gamma ; Pediatrics ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

We experienced a case of vestibular schwannoma and metachronous schwannoma in the colon. A 59-year-old female presented with a 1-month history of hematochezia. She had undergone suboccipital craniectomy resulting in radical subtotal resection, followed by gamma knife radiosurgery for a large left vestibular schwannoma 4 years prior to admission. On preoperative colonoscopy, a huge mass through which the colonoscope could not be passed was detected. CT scans showed colo-colonic intussusception with a 4.8-cm-sized mass in the descending colon. PET/CT revealed hypermetabolism of the descending colon tumor and pericolic lymph nodes. We performed left hemicolectomy under the preoperative impression of colon cancer with intussusception. A pathological diagnosis of benign schwannoma of the colon was made in this patient.
Colon* ; Colon, Descending ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colonoscopes ; Colonoscopy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intussusception ; Lymph Nodes ; Middle Aged ; Neurilemmoma* ; Neuroma, Acoustic* ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography ; Radiosurgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Menetrier's disease is a rare entity characterized by large, tortuous gastric mucosal folds. The mucosal folds in Menetrier's disease are often most prominent in the body and fundus. Histologically, massive foveolar hyperplasia (hyperplasia of surface and glandular mucous cells) is noted, which replaces most of the chief and parietal cells. Profuse mucus is usually observed during the endoscopy but there have been few cases that show interesting endoscopic findings such as mucus bridge or water pearl. Herein, we report a case of Menetrier's disease showing mucus bridge by excessive mucus observed during the endoscopy.
2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles/therapeutic use ; Amoxicillin/therapeutic use ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Clarithromycin/therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Gastric Mucosa/*pathology/secretion ; Gastritis, Hypertrophic/*diagnosis/pathology ; Gastroscopy ; Helicobacter Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucus/secretion ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed