A putative polypeptide hormone identified as amylin[islet amyloid polypeptide] is synthesized and co-localized with insulin in B cells of pancreatic islets in several animal species including man. However, there is growing evidence that somatostatin cells are also expressed and contained amylin in the pancreatic islets of the rat The aim of the present study was to investigate the immunocytochemical expression of the amylin within the endocrine pancreas of the man, rabbit and guinea pig, with special reference to the possible ability of islet cells other than insulin cells to synthesize amylin. For this purpose serial sections of the pancreatic islets were stainedimmunocytochemically using anti-amylin, anti-insulin, anti-glucagon, anti-somatostatin antisera. In serial sections of pancreatic islets of the man and rabbit, it was shown that amylin immunoreactivity occurred in insulin-reactive B cells predominantly located in interior of the islets. In contrast, amylin immunoreacivity appeared in glucagon-reactive A cells peripherally located in the islets of the guinea pig. These results suggest that in both the man and rabbit, amylin is synthesized by B cells for subsequent co-secretion with insulin, and that in guinea pig, amylin is synthesized by A cells for co-secretion with glucagon. It thus appears that amylin release may be mediated by different secretory mechanisms according to animal species.
Amyloid ; Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; Glucagon ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Immune Sera ; Immunohistochemistry ; Insulin ; Islet Amyloid Polypeptide* ; Islets of Langerhans* ; Rats ; Somatostatin-Secreting Cells

Patients who had posterior synechiae associated with uveitis,IOL mplantation, vitrectomy, underwent Nd-YAG synechiolysis had been treated with topical corticosteroids and surgical iridectomy. Even minimal dilatation of the pupil by Nd YAG synechiolysis enable the patient to read and the surgeon to postpone cataract surgery and evaluate optic disc or fundus. Also, pupil block may be treated by detaching the synechiae.18 Patients (20 eyes) with posterior synechiae underwent Nd-YAG synechiolysis at Kangnam St.Mary's Hospital from November 1997 to August 1998. An average of 17.14 +/-6.43mJ laser were used. The average prelaser pupil size was 3.78 +/-0.98 mm ;postlaser, 5.13 +/-1.27 mm.This change was statistically significant (p<0.01). Microhyphema and pigment dispersion developed in 4 eyes. However,no significant long-term complications occurred, and there were no obvious lenticular damage and pupil abnormality. Because this laser treatment is relatively safe and offers some possibility of visual improvement, we recom-mend Nd-YAG synechiolysis,but only if performed by an experienced laser microsurgeon.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Cataract ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Iridectomy ; Lasers, Solid-State ; Pupil ; Vitrectomy

BACKGROUND: A newly-found mitochondrial toxin, 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP), has been proved to induce apoptosis in the striatum. Although striatal lesions produced by 3-NP could develop through an excitotoxic mechanism, the exact relationship between apoptosis induction and excitotoxicity after 3-NP treatment is still not clear. We investigated the role of excitotoxicity and oxidative stress on apoptosis induction within the striatum following intra-peritoneal injection of 3-NP. METHODS: 3-NP was injected for 5 days intra-peritoneally in three month-old mice. One day after the last injection, animals were decapitated. To confirm the presence of apoptosis, we performed in-situ detection of DNA fragmentation by using TUNEL technique and agarose gel elctrophoresis after DNA extraction from striatum. To examine the effect of frontal cortex removal on 3-NP-indeced apoptosis, we removed left frontal cortex by aspiration. For excitotoxicity, NMDA-receptor antagonist-MK 801, non-NMDA antagonist-NBQX, and saline were injected intraperitoneally before 3-NP treatment To detect superoxide, we administered hydroethidium (HEt: 200 ul; 1mg/ml) into the jugular vein 2 days after 3-NP, and the density of oxidized HEt in samples were examined under flouscent microscope. We performed caspase staining to test immunoreactivity of caspase 3 in samples. RESULTS: The TUNEL positive cells were not observed in the striatum ipsilateral to the frontal cortex-removed side, but found in the contralateral striatum. Superoxide radicals measured by using HEt and caspase immunoreactivity were also significantly weaker in the striatum ipsilateral to the frontal cortex-removed side than the contralateral striatum. TUNEL staining revealed less apoptotic changes in the striatum of MK801-treated group than NBQX-or saline-treated groups. DNA laddering on agarose gel electrophoresis was observed in the striatum of NBQX- or saline-treated mice, but not found in MK 801-treated group. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that removal of the corticostriatal glutamate pathway reduced superoxide production as well as apoptosis induced by 3-NP and NMDA receptor antogonist, but not non-NMDA antagonist, prevented 3-NP-induced apoptosis in the striatum. These results suggest that NMDA-mediated glutamatergic excitotokicity plays an important role in 3-NP related striatal damage.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; DNA ; DNA Fragmentation ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Glutamic Acid ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Injections, Intraperitoneal* ; Jugular Veins ; Mice* ; Mitochondria ; N-Methylaspartate ; Oxidative Stress ; Sepharose ; Superoxides

We report a rare cause of lung cavities, occurring in a patient with intrapulmonary cystic teratoma. Computed tomography (CT) provided us more detailed informations about the tumor characteristics containing fat and calcification, which could not be distinguished on the plain radiographs. In addition, CTscans clearly demonstrated the dilated anterior segmental bronchus of the left upper lobe entering the posterior aspect of the cavity.
Bronchi ; Humans ; Lung* ; Teratoma*

Three-types of expandable metallic stents were constructed to evaluate the differences between the stents : one, formed in a cylindrical zigzag pattern with stainless steel wire (Gianturco stent), another, made by coating the Gianturco stent with silicone rubber(Silicone stent), the third, made by coating the Gianturco stent with 24 carat gold(God stent) for tissue acceptance. A total of 69 stents(each 23 stents of Glanturco, Silicone, and Gold stents) of 8-12 mm in diameter and 20 mm long were placed into normal abdominal aorta, inferior vena cava and iliac artery of nine adult dogs for 2 weeks to 11 months. It was more difficult to introcuce Silicone stent into an introducing sheath than Gianturco or Gold stent due to the thickness of silicone rubber, Four Gianturco stents and three Silicone stents showed migration but Gold stent did not. Luminal narrowing or occlusion was noted in 3 Silicone stents, in 2 Gianturco stents, and in 1 Gold stent. Neointimal proliferation over the stent wires was more rapid and even in God stent than Silicone or Gianturco stent. Although further study is needed, Gold stent seems to be better than Gianturco or Silicone stent as an endovascular graft material.
Adult ; Animals ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Dogs* ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Phenobarbital ; Silicon ; Silicone Elastomers ; Silicones ; Stainless Steel ; Stents* ; Transplants ; Vena Cava, Inferior

We evaluated and compared procedural memory and auditory P300 event-related potential in age-matched normal controls (n = 15) and drug-naive patients with Parkinson's disease (n = 16). We used Gollin's incomplete picture test for visual procedural memory function and Tower of Hanoi puzzle for visuomotor procedural memory function. The mean latency of P300 was significantly prolonged in the Parkinsonian group than in the controls. In the neuropsychology test, the patients group revealed selective impairment of visuomotor procedural memory against preserved visual procedural memory. In the patients group, the latency of P300 was inversely correlated with performance of visuomotor procedural memory. These results suggest that prolonged auditory P300 event-related potential show the dysfunction of visuomotor procedural memory in the basal ganglia, which appears to be more selectively impaired than visual procedural memory in drug-naive patients with Parkinson's disease.
*Event-Related Potentials, P300 ; *Evoked Potentials, Auditory ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Memory/*physiology ; Middle Age ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Parkinson Disease/*physiopathology/*psychology ; Reaction Time

The factors influencing upon stone fragmentation by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) of ureteral stones are considered to be stone size, location, component, and impaction. ESWL was performed in 322 cases with ureteral stones using the Modulith SL 20 electromagnetic lithqtripter between December 1990 and July 1992. The factors influencing upon stone fragmentation such as stone size, location, degree of hydronephrosis, shape, pain character and presence or absence of urinary tract infaction for the first and second session of ESWL were investigated. The failure rate of ESWL according to stone size was similar for stones smaller than 2.0cm(p>0.05) but was high for stones larger than 2.0cm(p<0.05). The failure rate of ESWL for upper ureteral stones was similar to midureteral stones(p>0.05) but was low for lower ureteral stones(p>0.05). The failure rate of SSWL according to degree of hydronephrosis was similar in cases without hydronephrosis and with mild hydronephrosis(p>0.05) but was high in cases with severe hydronephrosis(p<0.05). The failure rate of ESWL according to stone shape was not significantly different(p>0.05). The failure rate of ESWL in cases without pain was not significantly different from in cases with dull or colic pain(p>0.05). Urinary tract infection did not influence on the failure rate of ESWL(p>0.05). From this study it is believed that factors affecting fragmentation of ureteral stones were stone size, location, and degree of hydronephrosis, but stone shape, presence or absence of pre-ESWL pain or urinary tract infection did not influence on stone fragmentation rate.
Colic ; Hydronephrosis ; Lithotripsy* ; Magnets ; Shock* ; Ureter* ; Urinary Tract ; Urinary Tract Infections

In situ extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy(ESWL) monotherapy was performed in 75 cases with ureteral stones using the Modulith SL 20 electromagnetic lithotriptor between December 1990 and July 1991. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The locations of stones were upper ureter in 36 (48%) cases, midureter in 4 (5.3%) and lower ureter in 35 (46.7%). 2. The average number of ESWL was 1.27 sessions. 3. The number of ESWL sessions increased in accordance with increment of stone size. 4. The success rate was 97.2% in upper ureteral. 100% in midureteral, and 97.1% in lower ureteral stones. 5. The final success rate according to stone size was not significantly different. 6. Success rate decreased relatively in cases of complete ureteral obstruction by stones. Therefore, in situ ESWL monotherapy is considered to be a convenient safe, and efficient procedure as the first applicable method for the treatment of all ureteral stones regardless of stone size and location, because the multiple repeated ESWL monotherapy increases the success rate without ureteral deterioration.
Magnets ; Shock ; Ureter* ; Ureteral Obstruction

An asymptomatic 26-year-old man was initially admitted with a suspicious mediastinal mass. On the basis of the contrast-enhanced chest CT findings, aneurysm formation involving the left cervical aortic arch associated with subaortic left innominate vein was diagnosed. The aneurysm was confirmed by MR angiography and DSA. The arch aneurysm was surgically removed. We describe this case, and review the literature.
Adult ; Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Brachiocephalic Veins* ; Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: Many of the enzymes handling environmental factors are polymorphic and may confer variable susceptibility to renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Among those, the author studied genetic polymorphisms of CYP2D6 (B & T) and CYP1A1 in RCCs and controls in Korean. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using 132 RCCs and 94 controls, first PCR products were obtained in 104 RCCs and 94 controls with CYP2D6, and 74 RCCs and 56 controls with CYP1A1. Res triction enzyme - BstN I/EcoN I for CYP2D6 (B & T), and NCo I for CYP1A1-digestion was followed to analyze constitutive DNA. RESULTS: In both RCCs and controls, no mutant allele of CYP2D6 (B & T) was detected and the susceptibility for occurrence of RCC was unable to evaluate. With CYP1A1 RFLP, homozy gous wild type (WW) was seen in 68 (52.3%; 37 RCCs, 31 controls), heterozygous mutant type (WM) in 54 (41.5%; 32 RCCs, 22 controls) and homozygous mutant type (MM) in 8 (6.2%; 5 RCCs, 3 controls). The odds ratios (95% CI) of RCC susceptibility for CYP1A1 genotype were 1.15 for WM and 1.36 for MM. Even though not significant statistically, higher tendency in MM presented. CONCLUSION: There is no association between susceptibility for the occurrence of RCC and genetic polymorphism of CYP2D6 (B & T) and CYP1A1.
Alleles ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1* ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6* ; DNA ; Genotype ; Odds Ratio ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic* ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length