STUDY DESIGN: Changes of morphology and phenotype of cultured cells in media added lactate were observed. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of lactate on morphology and phenotype of cultured intervertebral disc cell. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: It was reported that lactate and pH were important factor in the degeneration of intervertebral disc. However the effect of lactate on morphology and phenotype of cultured intervertebral disc cell have not been studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cells were dissociated enzymatically from rabbit nucleus pulposus. After attaining monolayer growth, the cells were incubated in media added 2mM or 5mM lactate. Total cell counts and morphological changes of the cells were periodically observed. Changes in cell phenotype were investigated by use of anti-collagen antibody stain. RESULTS: The cell groups added no lactate and 2mM lactate showed no difference in cell counts, morphology and phenotype. The cell group added 5mM lactate showed a reduction in final cell Counts and highel'ratio of fibroblastic cell in total population. Anti-collagen I Ab stained the Intra-and extra-cellular area of fibroblastic cells and intracellular area of chondrocytic cells. CONCLUSIONS: The current study suggests that high concentration of lactate inhibit intervertebral disc cell proliferation and accelerate morphological and phenotypical change to fibroblastic cell.
Cell Count ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Lactic Acid* ; Phenotype*

No abstract available.
Colonoscopy* ; Tuberculosis*

Thirty-five cerebello-pontine angle lesions were diagnosed with simple skull X-ray, CT, and angiography atSeoul National University Hospital from Sept. 1978 through Aug. 1982. The radiographic findings were analysed withemphasis on the differential points of CT among the major three cerebello-pontine angle tumors; acousticneurinoma, meningioma and epidermoid. The results are as follows; 1. Among the 35 cases of cerebello-pontine anglelesions, 19 cases were acoustic neurinoma. 4 cases miningioma, 4 cases epidermoid, 2 cases metastasis, 1 caseschoroid plexus papilloma, 1 case arteriovenous malformation, and 3 cases intra-axial posterior fossa tumors. 2.The characteristic radiographic findings of acoustic neurinoma were windening of internal auditory canal, petrousbone erosion, posterior extension of tumor at the level of internal autidory canal, hypo or isodense mass onpre-contrast CT with high enhancement after intravenous contrast infusion, and cystic change within the mass. 3.Meningioma shows anterior extenstion of the lesion at the level of internal auditory canal, broad base and obtuseangle sign of the lesion with petrous bone, hyperdense mass on precontrast CT. with highly homogeneous enhancementafter intravenous contrast infusion. 4. Epidermoid characteristically shows hypodense mass on precontrast CT withno change after intravenous contrast infusion. 5. The differential points of the major 3 cerebello-pontine tumorswere bone change, mass location, attenuation , degree of attachment to petrous bone, and cystic change.
Angiography ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Infratentorial Neoplasms ; Meningioma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; Papilloma ; Petrous Bone ; Skull

PURPOSE: We assessed the accuracy of a portable ultrasound device (BladderScan(TM) BVI 3000) used to measure the postvoid residual urine volume (PVR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively measured the volume of residual urine in 160 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms between August 2000 and April 2001. After voiding, PVR measurements were performed immediately using ultrasound bladder scanning, followed by Nelaton catheterization, with the patient was in the supine position, and compared the results of the two techniques. RESULTS: The ultrasound bladder scanning correlated well with the catheterization for measuring the PVR (r=0.946). The ultrasound bladder scanning had a sensitivity and specificity of 95.4 and 100%, respectively, in detecting a PVR>or=100ml, and 83.4 and 91.5%, respectively, in cases where the PVR was less than 50ml. A multiple regression analysis, and a two sample t-test, showed that the difference was not related to: age, sex, weight, height, body mass index (BMI) or related diseases (p>0.05). Age, weight, height, BMI were not significant variables when comparing the sexes (p>0.05). There was a significant difference in patient's satisfaction and the required time of the procedure between bladder scanning and catheterization (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Portable ultrasound bladder scanning is quick, easy to use, non-invasive, readily repeatable, and specific for determining the PVR. Therefore, portable ultrasound bladder scanning can be used as an alternative to catheterization in the determination of residual urine volume.
Body Height ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Supine Position ; Ultrasonography* ; Urinary Bladder

No abstract available.
Animals ; Lordosis*

Multiple dermatofibromas are rare and some case reports show this disease has been related to generalized defective immune function: autoimmune disease and altered immunity, such as AIDS and systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE), can be treated with immunosuppressive agents. But there are no specific reports of this disease developing in healthy people. We describe a case of multiple dermatofibromas in a 38-year-old healthy man who showed no abnormality of the immune function.
Adult* ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents

Candidiasis is the most common fungal infection complicating the course of patients with hematologic malignant neoplasms. Although widespread organ involvement is characteristic of disseminated candidiasis, reports of skin are rare. Reports describing typical clinical and histopathological finding of cutaneous lesions are very important since it may enable a diagnosis of disseminated candidiasis to be made and thus antifungal therapy can be initiated earlier. A 50-year-old housewife was admitted with a 5-month history of fatigue and easy bruising. She was diagnosed as ha.ving acute myelocytic leukemia and treatment was begun with daunorubicin and cytosin, arabinoside. Eight days after the start of chemotherapy, she developed a fever and generalized tender well demacated erythematous to purplish papulonodular eruption. A biopsy specimen from the skin lesion showed perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration and spore and pseudohypae v,rere found within the dermis and subcutis in PAS stain. Cultures of one skin biopsy specimen and one of four blood sarnples grew Candida tropicalis. The patient was treated with intravenous amphotericin B for disseminated candidiasis. On the tenth day of antifun gal therapy, she developed cardiopulmonary arrest and died.
Amphotericin B ; Biopsy ; Candida tropicalis ; Candidiasis* ; Daunorubicin ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Fatigue ; Fever ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Middle Aged ; Skin Manifestations* ; Skin* ; Spores

The immunohistochemical expression of transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta), epidermal growth factor(EGF) and alpha-1-antitrypsin(AAT) was studied in 47cases of endoscopic biopsy matearials of gastric carcinoma to determine me correlation to the expression of alpha fetoprotein(AFP). And immunoreactivity of the antigens was correlated to me degree of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and histologic differentiation of the tumors. And the results were analyzed to elucidate pathological AFP-producing gastric cancer. The results were summarized as follows. AFP immunoreactivity was demonstrated in 30 cases(63.8%) of the tumors, TGF-beta in 26 cases(55.3%), EGF in l4 cases(29.8%) and AAT in l0 cases(21.3%). The incidence of expression of the antigens was significantly higher in the cases of elevated serum AFP(>2ng/ml) than that of the cases with normal serum AFP(p<0.05). There was no relation between the expression of antigens and histological differentiation of gastric cancer. The expression of AFP and TGF-beta revealed good correlation(k=0.72). The relation between expression of TGF-beta and AAT and the degree of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes disclosed negative correlation(p<0.05). These results suggest that TGF-beta and AAT prodution contribute to the worse prognosis of AFP-producting gastric cancer. Possible immunosuppressive action of TGF-beta and AAT in the cancer tissue is discussed.
Incidence ; Biopsy ; Stomach Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Keratinocytes*

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is an aggressive soft-tissue infection involving the deep fascia and is characterized by extensive deterioration of the surrounding tissue. Immediate diagnosis and intensive treatment, including debridement and systemic antibiotics, represent the most important factors influencing the survival of NF patients. In this report, we present a case of NF in the abdomen due to an infection caused by a perforated small bowel after abdominal liposuction. It was successfully treated using negative-pressure wound therapy, in which a silicone sheet functioned as a barrier between the sponge and internal organs to protect the small bowel.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Wall* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Debridement ; Diagnosis ; Fascia ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing* ; Humans ; Lipectomy ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy* ; Peritoneum ; Porifera ; Silicon* ; Silicones*