The fibrillar coat of Candida albicans is of interest as its significance in antigenicity, antiphagocytosis, and adherence to host tissues. The partial biochemical properties and ultrastructure of fibrillar coat induced by rabbit sera were examined. The induced fibrillar layer was destroyed by treatments of lyticase, proteinase K and dithiothreitol. The total protein concentration of fibrillar cell wall lysate was higher than that of non-fibrillar cell wall lysate, but the total sugar concentration was similar. On SDS-PAGE analysis, the protein profiles between in fibrillar cells and in non-fibrillar cells were shown to be different. In fibrillar cells, the major bands of cell wall lysate were 83, 66, 54, 47, 33, and 26 kDa in dithiothreitol-treated lysate. The proteins of 26 and 19 kDa were predominant in lyticase-treated lysate. Although the fibrillar thickness and protein amount of cell wall lysate were increased in according to the incubation time, the protein profiles did not changed. These results suggest that the proteins of 83, 66, 54, 47, 33, 26, and 19 kDa may be major constituents of fibrillar coat in C. albicans.
Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Cell Wall ; Dithiothreitol ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Endopeptidase K

The localization and number of oxytocin- and vasopressin-immunoreactive neurons (OXY-IR & VP-IR) and their fibers in the hypothalamic areas (supraoptic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, lateral hypothalamic area and median eminence) of the hypophysectomized rat were compared with normal rats at 6 months of survival after surgery at the light microscopic level. The number of VP-IR neurons was markedly decreased in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in the hypophysectomized rats as compared to normal rats. Moreover, The number of VP-IR fibers was decresed in the SON, PVN, lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and median eminence in the hypophysectomized rats. The number of OXY-IR neurons and thier fibers were also decreased in the SON and PVN in the hypophysectomized rats. The present results demonstrate that hypophysectomy induces a significant decrease in the number of OXY- and VPIR neurons and fibers within hypothalamic areas (SON, PVN, and LHA at 6 months of post-hypophysectomy) are decreased.
Animals ; Hypophysectomy ; Hypothalamic Area, Lateral ; Immunohistochemistry ; Median Eminence ; Neurons* ; Oxytocin* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Rats* ; Supraoptic Nucleus ; Vasopressins

PURPOSE: Ceftriaxone, a parenteral third-generation cephalosporine, is widely used in the treatment of various bacterial infections. It possesses high calcium-binding affinity, forming complexes with calcium in bile salts to develop precipitate that mimics gallstone on ultrasonography. Biliary pseudolithiasis resolves completely with cessation of therapy, but several symptomatic patients have undergone cholesystectomy. We prospectively evaluated the incidence, risk factors and dose- related comparison with ultrasonography. METHODS: Between November 1998 and August 1999, 81 cases of inpatients on ceftriaxone treatment in Dongguk University Pohang Hospital were enrolled for this study. They were divided according to dose of ceftriaxone, high-dose and low-dose groups. Repeated sonography was performed on 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after initiation of ceftriaxone treatrnent and then weekly until pseudolithiasis were resolved. RESULTS: Thirty-eight percent of the subjects acquired pseudolithiasis. Sonographic abnormalities appeared from 1 to 10 days after ceftriaxone therapy and completely resolved from 1 to 24 days after cessation of ceftriaxone therapy. The incidence of pseudolithiasis was significantly higher in the high-dose group(P<0.001). In the high-dose group, fasting over a day was a significant risk factor of pseudolithiasis(P<0.01). Sex, age, duration of ceftriaxone therapy, laboratory findings, type of infection or chief complaint were not significant risk factors for pseudolithiasis. CONCLUSION: We suggest that abdominal ultrasonography should be considered in all children who receive high dose ceftriaxone with fasting over a day. If pseudolithiasis was developed, we can detect the most of resolution after 30 days of cessation of therapy.
Bacterial Infections ; Bile Acids and Salts ; Calcium ; Ceftriaxone ; Child ; Fasting ; Gallstones ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inpatients ; Prospective Studies* ; Risk Factors ; Ultrasonography

A sudden increase in intracranial pressure due to spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage or head trauma may result in intraocular hemorrhage. To determine the prognostic implications, the incidence of this after SAH, and 157 consecutive patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage were prospectively studied by means of indirect fundoscopy. In 20(12.7%) of these patients, intraocular hemorrhage was seen on initial examination. Mean initial Hunt and Hess and Fisher CT grades were higher in SAH patients with intraocular hemorrhage than in those without(3.57 and 3.57 ; 2.56 and 2.70, respectively, the differences were those without statistically significant. The anatomic distribution of ruptured aneurysm was different in patients with intraocular hemorrhage and thoes without. The overall mortality rate was 19%(26 of 137 patients), but 50%(10 of 20 patients) with intraocular hemorrhage died. Based on the results of the above study we can conclude that in cases of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage, intraocular hemorrhage is not infrequent and that its prognosis is poor.
Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intracranial Pressure ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage*

We shoud give attention to Wernicke's encephalopathy as a cause of sudden coma & respiratory arrest in patients, who are not usually suspected to develop the disorder and empirical treatment with thiamine in cases of coma of unknown cause is recommended. Respiratory stimulants, doxapram & aminophylline have an effect in assisting ventilatory weaning in patient with central hypoventilation as a complication of acute Wernicke's encephalopathy No previous reports where doxapram had been used to assist weaning from mechanical ventilation in adults were noted. Nor has newly developed central hypoventilation been identified as an impediment to weaning in literature to date in Korea. We reported a rare case of Wernicke's encephalopathy caused by poor oral intake & inadequate nutritional suppliment after car accident, showing acute coma & respiratory arrest and treated adequately by thiamine replacement & mechanical ventilation with respiratory stimulant.
Adult ; Aminophylline ; Coma* ; Doxapram ; Humans ; Hypoventilation ; Korea ; Malnutrition* ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory System Agents ; Thiamine ; Weaning ; Wernicke Encephalopathy*

No abstract available.
Candida albicans* ; Candida*

The seminiferous tubules merge and connect with the tubuli recti that form the spaces known as the rete testis. Cystic ectasia of the rete testis is a rare benign testicular lesion. We report the cystic ectasia of the rete testis in a 66-year-old man.
Aged ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; Humans ; Rete Testis ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Testis

Steatocystoma multiplex is a rare, inherited disorder that is characterized by multiple, asymptomatic, variably sized dermal cysts. The condition is transmitted in an autosomal dominant fashion; although sporadic cases have been documented. Keratin 17 has been proposed to be an important factor in inherited steatocystoma. In this study, a 29-year old man has a 4-year history of asymptomatic, movable, skin-colored nodules on his face, neck, scalp, anterior chest and back. His father and elder-brother have similar lesions. Histologically, the cysts show a thin stratified squamous epithelium with sebaceous glands arising from its wall and an absence of the granular cell layer. Generally, there are two treatments-medical treatment and surgical treatment. In case of non- inflamed lesions, surgical excision or drainage is regarded as the best treatment. We tried excisional biopsy and until now there has been no recurrence in the operation area over the past 12 months following the operation.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Drainage ; Epithelium ; Fathers ; Humans ; Keratin-17 ; Neck ; Recurrence ; Scalp ; Sebaceous Glands ; Steatocystoma Multiplex* ; Thorax

Perinatal atrial flutter is a potentially lethal arrhythmia. Management of this disorder is difficult and controversial. Fetal atrial flutter is a serious and life threatening rhythm disorder particulary when it causes hydrops; it may be associated with fetal death or neurological damage. Although the initial episode of flutter may be difficult to control, recurrence of atrial flutter after successful resolution of the arrhythmia seems highly unlikely and long-term prognosis is excellent. We experienced a case of a atrial flutter diagnosed in utero at 38+6 weeks' gestation by fetal cardiac echocardiography. He was treated with maternal digoxin, but he continued to have atrial flutter until delivery. Restoration of sinus rhythm occured with propafenone therapy in this patient after failure of initial digoxin therapy and direct current cardioversion.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrial Flutter* ; Diagnosis* ; Digoxin ; Echocardiography* ; Edema ; Electric Countershock ; Fetal Death ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Prognosis ; Propafenone* ; Recurrence

Spontaneous rupture of a choledochal cyst leading to biliary peritonitis is a rare complication which can be fatal if not promptly diagnosed. The authors report the ultrasound and CT findings of two cases of spontaneous choledochal cystic rupture and the biliary peritonitis which ensued.
Choledochal Cyst* ; Peritonitis ; Rupture ; Rupture, Spontaneous* ; Ultrasonography