No abstract available.
Adenoma, Pleomorphic* ; Neurilemmoma*

beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) consisting of 40 to 42 amino acid is the principle constituent of senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease. Although, the hypothesis that deposition of AP triggers a cascade of events leading to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease has been widely accepted, direct evidence for triggering accumulation of phosphorylated tau in paired helical filament is rare. In this study, we examined neurotoxicity induced by 3 kinds of beta-amyloid peptides 1 ~28, 25~,35 and 1~40 to elucidate the way of mechanism trading to neuronal cell death caused by Abeta using cultured hippocampal neurons. For this purpose, we measured lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the culture media after treatment with Abeta combined with anti-oxidant drug, trolox, or not. By histochemical and TUNEL method, we studied the change of immunoreaction to anti-MAP-2 (microtubule associated protein -2, the main component of neuritis) and detected apoptotic cells, respectively, in the hippocampal neurons treated with Abeta. To investigate whether tau phosphorylation involve neurotoxicity induced by Abeta, we immunostained the neurons with anti-SMI-31 to recognize phosphorylated Ser 396/404 of tau. From our data, we suggested that Abeta1-40 and Abeta25-35 induced marked neurodegenerative changes, and the mechanism responsible for cell death caused by Abeta -neurotoxicity was associated with the apoptosis. Because Abeta-neurotoxicity was not inhibited by anti-oxidant, trolox, we suggested that anti-oxidant did not protect the neuronal cells against the damage induced by Abeta in ou. expo.imental envi.onment. Finally, we suggested that AP treatment did not potentiate the immunoreactivity to anti-phosphorylated tau antibody and we speculated that Abeta-neurotoxicity led hippocampal cells to apoptosis without tau phosphorylation.
Alzheimer Disease ; Apoptosis* ; Cell Death ; Culture Media ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Neurons* ; Pathology ; Peptides* ; Phosphorylation* ; Plaque, Amyloid

Apodemus agrarius has been used for experimental purpose to identify the route of infection and pathogenesis of Korean hemorrhagic fever. However, despite the increasing amount of information being published at present about the physiologic and ecologic characteristics of Apodemus, few data are available about the morphologic findings in the brain. This study was aimed to clarify the change of NADPH-d and neuropeptide Y (NPY) associated with aging of the Apodemus. The number of NADPH-d positive or negative NPY neurons in the cerebral cortex and striatum were compared between two age groups of Apodemus (4 months and 24 months) after the histochemical and immunohis-tochemical staining. 1. The number of NADPH-d positive NPY neurons in cerebral cortex or striatum were not different between the two age groups. 2. The number of NADPH-d negative NPY neurons in cerebral region or caudatoputamen striatum were not different between the two age groups. 3. Most of NADPH-d or NPY neurons were bipolar or multipolar neurons with complex and long dendrites in the control group. 4. The NADPH-d or NPY neurons in cerebral cortex were more tortous and shorter than control in the aged group. These findings demonstrate that NADPH-d positive NPY neurons and NPY neurons do not seem to be change of age in cerebral cortex or striatum of Apodemus agrarius.
Aging ; Animals ; Brain ; Cerebral Cortex* ; Dendrites ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; Humans ; Murinae* ; Neurons* ; Neuropeptide Y* ; Neuropeptides* ; Nitric Oxide

An 34-year-old woman was referred to our outpatient clinic because of 3-year history of diffuse hair loss. According to her, the hair loss tatalled more than 300 hairs daily and she had not been given any systemic medication. There was no history of hair disease in the family except for her father with androgenetic alopecia. On clinical examination there was diffuse alopecia of the frontal and parietotemporal scalp. There were no signs of scalp inflammation or scarring and were no short or broken hairs. The condition did not affect the eyebrows or eyelashes. The nails and teeth were normal. The hair was dry and lusterless, and numerous hairs were easily and painlessly pulled out after exerting soft traction. Light microscopic examination of these hairs showed them to be in anagen with pigmented, twisted hair bulbs and no internal or external root sheaths. Ruffling of the cuticle was seen on a short part of the proximal hair shaft, the rest of the hair being normal in appearance. The incisional biopsy showed fragmented inner root sheath. We diagnosed her for loose anagen hair and educated her to treat her hair gently. She has shown no improvement for two month follow up and is lost after then.
Adult ; Alopecia ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Biopsy ; Cicatrix ; Eyebrows ; Eyelashes ; Fathers ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hair Diseases ; Hair* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Scalp ; Tooth ; Traction

It has been reported that injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) into the hindpaw of a rat induces inflammatory responses with accompanying pain behaviors. Signs of pain behaviors observed in FCA-injected animals were reported to be similar to symptoms seen in patients with inflammatory pain. The nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) is a selective histochemical marker for the nitric oxide synthesizing enzyme, nitric oxide synthase (NOS). N (G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) is a NOS inhibitor. In the present study, we examined if inflammaory pain causes increases in NADPH-diaphorase reactivities in neurons of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). The results were as follows; 1. FCA-induced inflammation on a limb increased staining density (SD) of NADPH-d positive neurons in the ipsilateral side DRG. 2. Pretreatment of L-NAME did not changed SD of NADPH-d positive neurons on the inflammation of contralateral side DRG 3. Posttreatment of L-NAME decreased the inflammation induced SD of NADPH-d positive neurons. 4. n-NOS immunoreactivity did not match NADPH-d histochemical study, implying the constant level of enzyme itself. Inflammation pain on a hindlimb increased staining density of NADPH-diaphorase positive neuron in the DRG, which was decreased by L-NAME. L-NAME also decreased pain perception. This suggests a role of NO in the pain perception and/or modulation at the level of DRG.
Animals ; Diagnosis-Related Groups* ; Extremities ; Ganglia, Spinal ; Hindlimb ; Humans ; Inflammation ; NAD ; NADP ; Neurons ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide* ; Pain Perception ; Rats*

Nitric oxide (NO) is a short lived membrane permeable gas, a recently identified neuronal messenger molecule, and implicated in several activity-dependent forms of synaptic plasticity. The histochemical staining of NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) provides a simple method to select populations of neurons containing nitric oxide synthase (NOS), throughout the brain. The NADPH-d positive neurons, uniquely resistant to toxic insults and neurodegenerative diseases, have been colocalized with neurons in the brain and peripheral tissue containing NOS. Apodemus agrarius has been used for experimental purpose to identify the route of infection and pathogenesis of korean hemorrhagic fever. However, despite of the increasing publication at present about the physiologic and ecologic characteristics of Apodemus, a few data are available about the morphologic findings in the brain. In this study we used NADPH-d histochemistry to evaluate the distribution of neurons, contain NOS, on the postnatal development in cerebral cortex and striatum of the Apodemus agrarius. In the cerebral cortex of Apodemus agrarius, NADPH-d positive neurons were observed in all cortical layers, but were concentrated in V-VI layer. NADPH-d positive neurons of forebrain were more dense than other cortical regions. At 1 week after birth, NADPH-d positive neurons had short processes and immature features. In contrast, at 12 weeks after birth, NADPH-d positive neurons had longer and more complex processes than that of earlier ages. In the striatum, NADPH-d positive neurons were intensely stained, predominantly medium-sized neurons. They had multipolar or bipolar dendritic branches which belong to fusiform or stellate cell types in all groups. In addition, at 4 and 12 weeks after birth, NADPH-d positive neurons had long and complex fiber network. The number of NADPH-d positive neurons in the striatum was relatively decreased during postnatal development. However, the length and complexity of their processes were relatively increased after birth. Present results showed postnatal maturation patterns such as morphological features of NADPH-d positive neurons. These findings suggest that NADPH-d positive neurons will be reach adult level after 4 weeks of postnatal age. Therefore, this report provide the morphological evidence supporting the hypothesis that NO may be play a role in regulation of neuronal development and synaptic plasticity during postnatal development of Apodemus agrarius.
Adult ; Animals ; Brain ; Cerebral Cortex* ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; Humans ; Membranes ; Murinae* ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neurons* ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Parturition ; Plastics ; Prosencephalon ; Publications

Antiglobulin test-negative hemolytic anemia, thrombophilia, and marrow failure, such as aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndrome - refractory anemia (MDS-RA), are the primary clinical manifestations of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Here, we report on a case of a 56-year-old male patient diagnosed with PNH, MDS-RA, and immune hemolytic anemia (IHA). The patient was transferred to the hospital with an impression of hemolytic anemia and pulmonary embolism. Positive results were observed on direct and indirect antiglobulin tests, and alloantibody, anti-C and anti-e, autoantibodies were identified. In addition, C and e antigens were found in Rh subgrouping. Therefore, due to the presence of autoantibodies against C and e antigens, we assumed that the cause of IHA was autoimmune reaction. Spherocytosis, increased osmotic fragility test, and positivity on direct and indirect antiglobulin tests were not considered characteristics of PNH. Therefore, without the presence of pulmonary embolism and MDS-RA, it is possible that autoimmune hemolytic anemia was considered the only reason for the hemolytic anemia, and that PNH could be overlooked. In patients with PH, use of washed RBCs during transfusion is not necessary. PNH screening test is recommended for patients who have experienced a thromboembolic event and intravascular hemolysis or MDS-RA. In order to obtain accurate information regarding the percentage of GPI-AP-deficient RBCs, flow cytometric analysis should be performed prior to transfusion.
Anemia, Aplastic ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; Anemia, Refractory ; Autoantibodies ; Bone Marrow ; Coombs Test ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal ; Hemolysis ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; Osmotic Fragility ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Thrombophilia

BACKGROUND: We have compared the protective effect of 1,000 ml preload on prevention of hypotension with 200 ml preload of crystalloid solution, administered during the 10 min before spinal anesthesia in 30 healthy women undergoing elective caesarean section. METHODS: Systolic blood pressure (SAP) and heart rate (HR) were measured as index of hypotension due to vasodilaton. Ephedrine IV bolus was treated as a decrease in systolic blood pressure to less than 70% of baseline value or to less than 90 mmHg. Apgar score, umbilical artery and vein blood gas analysis were also checked as parameters of fetal well-being. RESULTS: There was no difference in changes in maternal HR, SAP during spinal anesthesia between the two groups. There was no significant difference in ephedrine requirements between the two groups. There was no effect on the clinical condition of the newborn in each group, as assessed by Apgar scores and umbilical cord blood gas analysis. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that volume preloading is not essential to prevent spinal-induced hypotension at caesarean section.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Apgar Score ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Cesarean Section* ; Ephedrine ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Umbilical Arteries ; Veins

OBJECTIVES: The current study investigated the risk of smartphone addiction among children and adolescents with or without attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), risk of depression, anxiety, and self-esteem using the Smartphone Addiction Scale Proneness, Kovac's Children's Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, commonly used in clinical medicine. METHODS: Ninety five students with ADHD who visited psychiatry outpatient clinics completed the questionnaire. At the same time, 592 middle and high school students living in a similar area regardless of ADHD diagnosis, completed the questionnaire as control subjects. RESULTS: Overall, 40.0% of 95 ADHD and 12.8% of 592 control subjects were classified as the smartphone addiction proneness group, 26.3% of the ADHD subjects and 8.3% of the control group were classified as the depression group, and 32.6% of the ADHD subjects and 16.2% of the control group were classified as the anxiety group. Significant differences were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that ADHD subjects are more prone to smartphone addiction, becoming depressed or anxious than those in the control group. From this study, we could suggest that students with ADHD are more easily affected by smartphone addiction than normal control subjects. In addition, we might understand how some psychiatric problems like depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem are related to ADHD and smartphone addiction.
Adolescent ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Anxiety ; Child* ; Clinical Medicine ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Smartphone

Abiotrophia defectiva, a nutritionally variant streptococci can cause bacteremia, brain abscess, septic arthritis and in rare cases, infective endocarditis, which accounts for 5-6% of all cases. A. defectiva is characteristically difficult to diagnose and the mortality, morbidity and complication rates are high. Here, we discuss a case of infective endocarditis caused by A. defectiva. A 62-year-old female had previously undergone prosthetic valve replacement 6 years prior to admission. She developed infective endocarditis after tooth extraction. Her endocarditis was successfully treated with antimicrobial therapy and mitral valve replacement surgery. This is the first case of infective endocarditis caused by A. defectiva reported in Korea. This case shows that A. defectiva could be considered as a causative organism of infective endocarditis in Korea.
Abiotrophia* ; Arthritis, Infectious ; Bacteremia ; Brain Abscess ; Endocarditis* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; Mortality ; Tooth Extraction