Morphological effects of degranulation upon me-senteric mast cells of albino rats (SPrague-Dawley strain) by means of lipid administration were studied. An evident degranulation of metachromatic granules from mesenteric tissue mast cells was observed in more than half of experimental rats which were intraperitoneally given 10cc of stearic monoglyceride suspension in warm Tyrode solution (5Omg. of stearic monoglyceride in 10cc of Tyrode solution). A fairly light degranulation of metachro-matic granules from mesenteric mast cells was also displayed by the rats fed ad libitum with butter for 6 hours after being deprived of food for 24 hours.
Animals ; Cytoplasmic Granules/*drug effects ; Lipids/*pharmacology ; Mast Cells/*drug effects ; Mesentery/cytology ; Rats

No abstract available.
Child* ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Mass Screening*

Numerous open operations on the thoracic sympathetic ganglia for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis have been advocated, but have also produced several complications. A new therapeutic technique for this disorder has been introduced by combining a thoracoscope and video system. We performed thoracoscopic transthoracic sympathecomy safely and effectively in thirtyfour cases with palmar hyperhidrosis. Althought the follow up period was short, all hands of patients were dry immediately after the operation & there was no recurrence of palmar sweating. Based on our experience, this method is considered a relatively minor and safe procedure without producing significant postoperative complication, causing minimal discomfort and almost invisible scar.
Cicatrix ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Hand ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Sympathectomy* ; Thoracoscopes

No abstract available.
Child* ; Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Humans ; Plasma* ; Renal Veins* ; Renin* ; Veins*

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to compare the working memory span between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the Korean elderly population and to evaluate the effectiveness of the working memory span tests. METHODS: 32 normal controls (NC), 26 patients with MCI and 28 AD patients at a mild stage were participated in this study. We used newly devised working memory span tests (Word span test and Dot matrix) according to the components of working memory ;central executive, phonological loop, and visuospatial sketchpad. And the results were compared with the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Packet (CERAD-K). To evaluate the effectiveness of the working memory tests and CERAD-K to screen MCI and AD, receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted. RESULTS: All subsets of the two working memory span tests showed significant decline in verbal and visuospatial working memory in AD. But there was no significant difference between NC and MCI. Compared to CERAD-K, the two working memory tests showed good effectiveness to discriminate AD. CONCLUSION: This study showed that working memory span tests could be effective diagnosing tools for detecting AD. But for the MCI, the working memory impairment was not prominent than episodic memory impairment. This is supposed to result from the various kinds of working memory components, especially the episodic buffer.
Aged ; Alzheimer Disease* ; Humans ; Memory, Episodic ; Memory, Short-Term* ; Mild Cognitive Impairment* ; ROC Curve

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the association between cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and panoramic radiographs in the assessment of a superimposed relationship between the mandibular canal and impacted third molars. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study samples consisted of 175 impacted third molars from 131 patients who showed a superimposed relationship between the mandibular canal and third molars on panoramic radiographs and were referred for the examination of the mandibular canal with CBCT. Panoramic images were evaluated for the darkening of the root and the interruption of the mandibular canal wall. CBCT images were used to assess the buccolingual position of the mandibular canal relative to the third molar, the proximity of the roots to the canal, and lingual cortical bone loss. The association of the panoramic and CBCT findings was examined using a Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Panoramic radiographic signs were statistically associated with CBCT findings (P<0.01). In cases of darkening roots, lingual cortical bone loss or buccally positioned canals were more frequent. In cases in which the mandibular canal wall was interrupted on panoramic radiographs, contact or lingually positioned canals were more frequent. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that contact between the mandibular third molar and canal and a lingually positioned canal could be more frequently observed in cases of the interruption of the white line of the mandibular canal and that there could be more lingual cortical loss in cases of darkening roots.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Humans ; Mandibular Nerve ; Molar, Third ; Radiography, Panoramic

Bronchiolitis Obliterans(BO) is one of the rare inflammatory lung disease that primarily affects bronchi and bronchioles, followed by partial or complete obstruction. In children, the etiology of BO has been under consideration, but infections and toxic inhalation, connective tissue diseases, lung transplantation, congestive pulmonary edema, etc., may be causes of BO. Even though steroid therapy was reported as an effective treatment, there are few data regarding the epidemiology, pathophysiology, long term prognosis and therapy. Here we describe a 5-year-old boy who presented with intractable wheezing associated with Stevens-Johnson syndrome after Varicella-Zoster virus infection and was diagnosed as BO through chest high-resolution computed tomography.
Bronchi ; Bronchioles ; Bronchiolitis Obliterans* ; Bronchiolitis* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; Epidemiology ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Lung Diseases ; Lung Transplantation ; Male ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Edema ; Respiratory Sounds ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome* ; Thorax

PURPOSE: Warthin's tumor is a slow growing tumor found exclusively either in the parotid gland or the periparotid lymph nodes. Although surgical resection is the treatment of choice, the extent of surgery which is most beneficial has remained contraversial. We performed a comparative study of the results between enucleation and parotidectomy groups to evaluate the effectiveness of the enucleation procedure for the surgical management of parotid Warthins tumor. METHODS: Between January 1981 and July 2001, 74 patients underwent surgical resection of parotid Warthin's tumor. We reviewed the clinicopathological characteristics retrospectively and compared the operation time, postoperative complication rate, duration of postoperative hospital stay and recurrence between the enucleation group and the parotidectomy group. RESULTS: The mean age was 57.0 years (19~86 years) and the male to female ratio was 5.7: 1. The majority of the tumors were situated in the lower region of the superficial lobe (89.2%). Bilateral simultaneous involvements of the parotid gland was found in 5 patients (6.8%) and therefore a total of 79 parotid glands were involved. Four (5.4%) of the 79 parotid glands featured multifocal tumors of two or three lumps. Tumor sizes varied from 0.5 to 13.0 cm with a mean diameter of 3.5 cm. Of the 74 patients, 51 (68.9%) were diagnosed preoperatively or perioperatively by means of CT scans, ultrasound, 99m-Tc. scan, fine needle aspiration cytology or intraoperative frozen section biopsy. Of the 79 glands, 46 underwent a superficial (n=39), partial (n=2) or total (n=5) parotidectomy, while enucleation was performed for the remaining 33 cases with single Warthin's tumor. Only one case of recurrence was identified during the follow up period. However the operation time, the postoperative complication rate, and the duration of postoperative hospital stay were all significantly reduced in the enucleation group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The enucleation procedure may represent a safe and appropriate surgical method for patients with single Warthin's tumor that is diagnosed preoperatively.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Frozen Sections ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Parotid Gland ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES : Anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) are found in the sera of many patients with Kawasaki disease (KD). In this study, the pathogenic role of AECA in the development of coronary arterial lesions of KD was investigated. SUBJECTS AND METHODS : Serum IgM-AECA concentrations were measured in 22 KD patients. Cultured human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) were incubated with either acute or convalescent phase sera, and their expressions of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) assessed. IgM fractions of the sera were purified, and their ability to induce ICAM-1 mRNA and protein expressions evaluated. To address the signal transduction pathways involved in IgM-AECA-induced ICAM-1 expression, the blocking effect of four protein kinase inhibitors, PD98059, SB203580, dimethylaminopurine (DMAP) and parthenolide were measured. RESULTS : IgM-AECA was present in 14 out of 22 (64%) acute KD sera. ICAM-1 expression of HCAEC incubated with acute KD sera (117.1+/-46.7) and AECA-positive acute KD sera (143.3+/-37.5) were significantly higher than those of the convalescent KD sera (88.9+/-14.4, p<0.05) or AECA-negative acute KD sera (71.2+/-11.8, p<0.05), respectively. IgM-AECA from KD patients significantly induced ICAM-1 protein and mRNA expression. The upregulation of ICAM-1 expression was significantly inhibited by SB203580, DMAP and parthenolide, but not by PD98059. CONCLUSION : IgM-AECA was detected in the sera of about 2/3 of acute KD patients, which activated endothelial cells by upregulation of ICAM-1 expression, possibly via p38, JNK MAPK and NF-kappaB signal transduction pathways. Thus, IgM-AECA may play a pathogenic role in the development of coronary arterial lesions in KD patients.
Antibodies ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; Coronary Vessels ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; NF-kappa B ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction ; Up-Regulation

PURPOSE: We evaluated the fractal dimension changes on bovine rib radiographs according to the decalcification degree and the exposure time in the bovine rib. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty 5 mm thick cross-sectional blocks from bovine rib bone were progressively decalcified in 30 mL 0.1 N hydrochloric acid for 5, 30, and 90 minutes. They were radiographed at three exposure time settings (0.22, 0.36, 0.43 mAs) before and after each decalcification stage. We selected 100 x 100 pixel-sized regions of interests (ROIs) on trabecular bone and calculated fractal dimensions by box-counting method. RESULTS: Repeated measures ANOVA showed that fractal dimensions gradually decreased after acid-induced demineralization and with more exposure (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The fact that fractal dimensions decrease after decalcification might support the hypothesis that patients with osteoporosis have decreased radiographic fractal dimension in trabecular bone in comparison to normal subjects.
Bone and Bones ; Fractals* ; Humans ; Hydrochloric Acid ; Osteoporosis ; Radiography ; Ribs*