PURPOSE: To evaluate functional MR imaging of the motor speech area with and without motor stimulation duringthe rest period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine healthy, right-handed volunteers(M:F=7:2, age:21-40years) wereincluded in this study. Brain activity was mapped using a multislice, gradient echo single shot EPI on a 1.5T MRscanner. The paradigm consisted on a series of alternating rest and activation tasks, performed six times. Each volunteer in the first study(group A) was given examples of motor stimulation during the rest period, while eachin the second study(group B) was not given examples of a rest period. Motor stimulation in group A was achieved bycontinuously flexing five fingers of the right hand. In both groups, maximum internal word generation was achievedduring the activation period. Using fMRI analysis software(Stimulate 5.0) and a cross-correlationmethod(background threshold, 200; correlation threshold, 0.3; ceiling, 1.0; floor, 0.3; minimal count, 3),functional images were analysed. After correlating the activated foci and a time-signal intensity curve, theactivated brain cortex and number of pixels were analysed and compared between the two tasks. The t-test was usedfor statistical analysis. RESULT: In all nine subjects in group A and B, activation was observed in and adjacentto the left Broca's area. The mean number of activated pixels was 31.6 in group A and 27.8 in group B, adifference which was not statistically significant(P>0.1). Activities in and adjacent to the right Broca 's areawere seen in seven of group A and four of group B. The mean number of activated pixels was 14.9 in group A and 18in group B. Eight of nine volunteers in group A showed activity in the left primary motor area with negativecorrelation to the time-signal intensity curve. The mean number of activated pixels for this group was 17.5. Inthree volonteers, activation in the right primary motor area was also observed, the mean number of activatedpixels in these cases was 10.0. CONCLUSION: During the rest period, functional MR imaging of the motor speechcenter combined with motor stimulation was more effective than that without stimulation, and simultaneouslyprovided mapping of the primary motor area.
Brain ; Fingers ; Hand ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Volunteers

Primary pulmonary neoplasms are uncommon in children. One such tumor, pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB), is very rare, highly aggressive and malignant, and originates from either the lungs or pleura. It contains both mesenchymal and benign epithelial elements that resemble fetal lung, and occurs mainly in children aged less than five. The clinal symptoms often suggest upper respiratory tract infection or pneumothorax, but ultrasonography and chest CT scans depict both a large mass occupying an almost entire hemithorax, and a simple lung cyst. Contrast-enhanced CT demonstrates hetergeneous attenuation and a whorled appearance.
Child ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Pleura ; Pneumothorax ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: To evaluate the activated zone of the supplementary motor area through motor and sensorystimula-tion of both hands by fMRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four healthy volunteers, ranging in age from 20to 30 years, served as sub-jects. They were divided into four groups and performed one of the four activationtasks : complex movement, fine movement, touch sensation, heat sensation. Complex movement consisted of a fingertask in which sub-jects flexed and extended all fingers repeatedly in union, without the fingers touching eachother(group I). Fine movement involved a thumb task in which subjects flexed and extended the thumb repeatedlywithout touch-ing the other fingers(group II). Touch sensation consisted of a palm task in which another personrepeatedly drew a circle on the subject 's palm (group III), and heat sensation involved of a palm task in whichsubject 's palm was touched by another person with a 40 degreeC water-bag (group IV). F-MRI was conducted on acommer-cial 1.5-T scanner equipped with echo-planar imaging. After overlapping images were obtained using aZ-s-core, and the mean/curve in the MR devices was evaluated, the activated zone of the supplementary motor RESULTS: Thirty-two of 48 images(20 of the 24 men) revealed activated zones in the supplementary motor area. Ingroup I, activation was observed in five subjects, in three of whom it was bilateral (contralateral activation).In group II, activation was observed in five subjects, in one of whom it was bilateral. In group III, activationoccurred in five subjects(bilateral in four, and contralateral in three), and In group IV, activation was alsoob-served in five ; in three of these it was bilateral. CONCLUSION: Using fMRI, and in association with motor andsensory tasks, the supplementary motor area was activated in 66.7% of healthy volunteers (32/48).
Brain* ; Echo-Planar Imaging ; Fingers ; Hand ; Healthy Volunteers ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Sensation ; Thumb

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the cardiopulmonary effects of pressurized cement insertion in elderly patients undergoing cemented hip hemiarthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a randomized prospective study on elderly patients undergoing cemented hip hemiarthroplasty. Patients were divided into pressurized and non-pressurized groups based on the pressure application during cement insertion. We measured mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), arterial blood gases and serotonin concentration in blood. These variables were measured before bone cement insertion, and 3 and 5 minute after insertion. They were also measured immediately and 15 minutes after reduction. RESULTS: In cemented hip hemiarthroplasty, there were no significant change in MAP (P=0.92), SBP (P=0.85), DBP (P=0.98), HR (P=0.97) and serotonin concentration over time. There were no statistically significant difference between the two groups in MAP, SBP, DBP, HR, PO2, PaCO2, SaO2 and serotonin concentration, though three minutes after cement insertion, both groups showed decreases in SBP, DBP and MBP. CONCLUSION: The pressurization method in cemented hip hemiarthroplasty was not found to be related with development of bone cement syndromes in elderly patients.
Aged ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Gases ; Heart Rate ; Hemiarthroplasty* ; Hip* ; Humans ; Prospective Studies* ; Serotonin

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy, which is also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is a cardiac syndrome of a transient, reversible left ventricular dysfunction that is caused by emotional and/or physical stress and surgery. Its clinical manifestations are similar to those of myocardial ischemia without a coronary artery lesion. Stress-induced cardiomyopathy is more common in middle-aged women, and the prognosis is favorable. We report the case of a 50-year-old female patient who underwent a total gastrectomy and developed stress-induced cardiomyopathy after surgery.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Cardiomyopathies ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Prognosis ; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) has the clinical feature of other collagen vascular diseases. According to several reports recently published, MCTD sometimes involved kidney as benign course. ANCA associated glomerulonephritis occurred in systemic autoimmune disease such as systemic sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis, not in MCTD. In this case, as we experienced that MPO-ANCA associated glomerulonephritis arose and proceeded to rapid progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) in women with MCTD, we report it with review of reference. A 60-year-old woman was admitted with uremia and joint pain. In physical finding and serum test, she was diagnosed with MCTD according to Khan`s criteria. Also MPO antibody and ANCA were noted in specific immunological test and the histologic findings showed crescentic glomerulonephritis. So we diagnosed RPGN induced by MPO-ANCA associated glomerulonephritis. She was treated with immunosuppressive treatment and uremia was improved. RPGN induced by MPO-ANCA associated glomerulonephritis should be ruled out by prompt renal biopsy and require proper treatment.
Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic ; Arthralgia ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Biopsy ; Collagen ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis ; Humans ; Immunologic Tests ; Kidney ; Middle Aged ; Mixed Connective Tissue Disease ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; Uremia ; Vascular Diseases

Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory reactions and fibrosis. Myofibroblasts are considered therapeutic targets for preventing and reversing the pathogenesis of fibrosis in systemic sclerosis. Although the mechanisms that differentiate into myofibroblasts are diverse, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is known to be a key mediator of fibrosis in systemic sclerosis. This study investigated the effects of extracellular vesicles derived from human adipose stem cells (ASC-EVs) in an in vivo systemic sclerosis model and in vitro TGF-β1-induced dermal fibroblasts. The therapeutic effects of ASC-EVs on the in vivo systemic sclerosis model were evaluated based on dermal thickness and the number of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-expressing cells using hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. Administration of ASC-EVs decreased both the dermal thickness and α-SMA expressing cell number as well as the mRNA levels of fibrotic genes, such as Acta2, Ccn2, Col1a1 and Comp. Additionally, we discovered that ASC-EVs can decrease the expression of α-SMA and CTGF and suppress the TGF-β pathway by inhibiting the activation of SMAD2 in dermal fibroblasts induced by TGF-β1. Finally, TGF-β1-induced dermal fibroblasts underwent selective death through ASC-EVs treatment. These results indicate that ASC-EVs could provide a therapeutic approach for preventing and reversing systemic sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Recent data showed prolonged administration of direct thrombin inhibitor might be needed to counteract the persistent thrombin activity and reduce the neointimal hyperplasia after arterial injury. We hypothesized that prolonged administration of LB30057, orally active direct thrombin inhibitor, might inhibit the vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation in vitro and neointimal hyperplasia in rat carotid injury model. METHODS: In phase I, thrombin stimulated [methyl-3H] thymidine uptake was measured after LB30057 administration in cell culture study using rat aortic SMC. In phase II, LB30057 (low-dose: 5mg/kg, bid: mid-dose: 25mg/kg, bid: high-dose: 50mg/kg, bid) or placebo was administrated orally twice a day starting from 30minutes before injury until sacrifice for 14days in separated 2 sets of experiment. The histo-morphometric analysis for lumen area, intimal area, medial area, intima-to-medial ratio was performed. RESULTS: In vitro rat aortic SMC culture study, LB30057 inhibited thrombin-induced thymidine uptake. The mean neointimal area was significantly less in high-dose and mid-dose group than placebo group (high-dose vs. placebo: 0.14+/-0.02mm2 vs. 0.25+/-0.02mm2: mid-dose vs. placebo: 0.16+/-0.02mm2 vs. 0.29+/-0.03mm2, p<0.005) respectively and the mean ratio of neointima to medial area were significantly less in high-dose and mid-dose group than in placebo group (high-dose vs. placebo: 1.20+/-0.57 vs. 1.94+/-0.67, mid-dose vs. placebo: 1.58+/-0.29 vs. 2.39+/-0.27, p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the mean area of internal elastic lamina, external elastic lamina and mean luminal area between groups. In 2nd set experiment, the mean neointimal area (placebo: 0.29+/-0.03mm2, mid-dose: 0.16+/-0.02mm2: p<0.005), the mean area of internal elastic lamina and external elastic lamina were significantly less in mid-dose group than in placebo group. The mean ratio of neointima to medial area was significantly less in mid-dose group(1.58+/-0.29) than in placebo group (2.39+/-0.27) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: LB30057 inhibits SMC proliferation in a dose dependent manner. Prolonged 14-day oral administration of LB30057 is effective in reducing the neointimal hyperplasia in rat carotid balloon injury model.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Proliferation* ; Hyperplasia* ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Neointima ; Phenobarbital ; Rats* ; Thrombin* ; Thymidine

The impact of glucose-free icodextrin (ID) for overnight dwell as compared to conventional glucose-containing dialysate (GD) on potassium (K+) metabolism in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients has not yet been investigated. Serum K+ in a total of 255 stable patients (116 on GD and 139 on ID) on CAPD for more than 6 months and in 139 patients on ID before and after ID use (Pre-ID and Post-ID) were observed along with nutritional markers in a 2-year study period (Jan. 2006 to Dec. 2007). The prevalence of hypokalemia was similar between patients on GD and ID (16.7% vs 17.3%), but was lower on Post-ID than Pre-ID (17.3% vs 20.5%) without statistic significance. The mean serum K+ level was higher on ID than on GD (P<0.05) as well as Post-ID than Pre-ID (P<0.001). In the multivariate analysis, serum K+ levels were positively correlated with serum albumin, and creatinine in all patients (P<0.05), and ID-use in younger patients (age< or =56, P<0.001). Serum albumin, creatinine, total CO2, and body mass index were significantly higher on Post-ID than Pre-ID. Icodextrin dialysate for chronic overnight dwell could increase serum K+ levels and lower the prevalence of hypokalemia compared to conventional glucose-containing dialysate. The improved chronic K+ balance in CAPD patients on icodextrin could be related to enhanced nutritional status rather than its impact on acute intracellular K+ redistribution.
Body Mass Index ; Creatinine ; Glucans ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hypokalemia ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nutritional Status ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Potassium ; Prevalence ; Serum Albumin

PURPOSE: Hollow fiber assays offer an early in vivo method of anticancer drug screening. The assays have been optimized for human cancers originating from the lung, breast, colon, ovary, and brain, but not from the stomach and liver. The current study focused on optimization of hollow fiber assays for gastric and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gastric (SNU-16, SNU-484, SNU-668) and hepatocellular (HepG2, SK-Hep-1, Hep3B) carcinoma cell lines in hollow fibers were transplanted subcutaneously and intraperitoneally into mice, which were subsequently treated with a standard anticancer agent, paclitaxel. The hollow fiber activity of paclitaxel in each cell line was compared with the xenograft activity. RESULTS: Using optimized inoculation densities and schedules, treatment with paclitaxel was effective in gastric carcinoma cell lines, SNU-16 and SNU-484, but not in SNU-668. In the hollow fiber assays, paclitaxel was effective in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, HepG2 and SK-Hep-1, but not in Hep3B. Consistent with the results of the hollow fiber assay, SNU-16 and SNU-484, but not SNU-668, showed tumor regression, and HepG2 and SK-Hep-1, but not Hep3B, showed effective tumor responses following treatment with paclitaxel in xenograft models. When EW7197, a novel compound, and flavopiridol were tested in SNU-16 cells under optimized conditions, the hollow fiber activity showed good correlation with the xenograft activity of each compound. CONCLUSION: Our protocols may be useful for screening candidate small molecules that may exhibit activity against stomach and liver cancers, both of which are common in Korea.
Animals ; Appointments and Schedules ; Brain ; Breast ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cell Line ; Colon ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Female ; Heterografts ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver ; Liver Neoplasms* ; Lung ; Mass Screening ; Mice ; Ovary ; Paclitaxel ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach*